Bristol Boro Street Sweeper Returns April 6th

Bucks County last month held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the newly constructed Diversion, Assessment, Restoration and Treatment (DART) Center in Doylestown Township.

Expected to begin accepting residents this month, the 23,000 square-foot facility will serve adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use issues who are involved with the criminal justice system.

“We have wanted to do something about this problem – to get people diverted from the criminal justice system,” said Commissioner Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW. “But one piece of the puzzle was missing. It was this place.”

Through treatment and skill development, the Center will operate with the goals of diverting people from incarceration, reducing days of incarceration, reducing utilization of State institutions and reducing recidivism.

The DART Center houses three distinct tracks within this Residential Treatment Center for Adults:

• Short-Term Assessment and Stabilization – A safe transitional opportunity assessment and referral (up to eight individuals)
• Restoration of Competency Unit – For individuals involved in the criminal justice system who have been deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial (up to four individuals)
• Community Integration – A space for individuals in need of treatment and daily living skill development to support movement to more independent living in the community (up to 16 individuals)

At full capacity, the DART can simultaneously serve up to 28 people.

Bucks County has hired the GEO Group to manage day-to-day operations at the DART Center, with oversight from Bucks County BH/DP.

“Right now, there’s a person, maybe more than one, who doesn’t even know that the DART Center exists. They are somewhere hard, in a cell somewhere, trying to get through another day [in a world] that has told them they’re too complicated to help,” said Dr. Mathew Abraham, Senior Director of Treatment and Program Development for GEO. “That person is going to find their way here, and when they do, they will walk through a door that says, ‘we see you, you are worth all of this.’”

Located on the grounds of the former Women’s Community Corrections Center, construction on the DART began in late 2023.

Credit: Submitted

The total projected cost to build the facility is about $19.8 million. The County has paid for the construction with a combination of mostly federal and state funds, with about $1.8 million coming from the County’s General Fund.

“Today marks an important milestone for Bucks County, because we are not simply opening a building,” said General Services Director Bernard Griggs. “We are opening a pathway to a more compassionate, affective approach to mental health and criminal justice.

General contracting work on the project was performed by Magnum, Inc., with architecture services by USA Architects, engineering by Carroll Engineering and Windward, electrical work by the Farfield Company, mechanical services by Integrity Mechanical, Inc., plumbing services by Vision Mechanical, fire protection work by Guy M. Cooper Mechanical and construction management by Jingoli.

Commissioner Vice Chair Bob Harvie, speaking  to a crowd of County officials and community stakeholders gathered to mark the DART’s opening, reflected on the questions that drove the facility’s planning years before its construction.

“What could we do on this spot that could make a difference?” he said. “What can we do on this spot that has meaning for people who really need help at a time that might be the lowest in their lives, that serves a purpose, and helps law enforcement and the criminal justice system appropriately handle people who shouldn’t be in a prison, but end up there because there is nowhere else to go?”

The DART Center is just the latest effort by the County to improve mental health services for Bucks County residents, especially those whose illness brings them into contact with the criminal justice system.

One ongoing effort is the award-winning Human Services Co-Responders Program, which embeds social workers in police departments to assist officers when encountering people in need of social services. Since launching in 2020 with the Bensalem Police Department, the program has expanded to serve more than two dozen police departments countywide.

In partnership with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, the County has also established specialized court programs to address the unique needs of qualifying offenders, including Recovery Court, Wellness Court and Veterans Treatment Court. These programs have been nationally recognized and are instructive for similar programs across the country.

PHOTO: Jeff Contino, Director of the Diversion, Assessment, Restoration and Treatment (DART) Center, on Feb. 25, 2026, leads Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan, Sheriff Danny Ceisler, Prothonotary Donna Petrecco and others in a tour of the newly completed facility. Credit: Submitted

Bristol Borough Police arrested and jailed a man who stands accused of threatening police and harassing 911 emergency operators.

*David J. Chichilitti arraigned James F. Dicicco, 50, on one felony count of false calls to 911, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, and three additional misdemeanor offenses on March 5. Dicicco was remanded to the custody of Bucks County Correctional Facility as he was unable to post the 10 percent of $45,000.00 bail set by Chichilitti.

According to the probable cause, on November 30, 2025, Dicicco allegedly made numerous phone calls to the non-emergency phone line of Bucks County Communications (911) utilizing two phone numbers 215-317-**** and 610-828-**** directed for/towards Bristol Borough Police Department.

The calls were not of an emergency or non-emergency nature, police said and were made explicitly to harass communication staff and threaten Levitsky and Bristol Borough Police Department members.

The calls started at about 11 p.m. on November 30, 2025 and ended on December 1, 2025 at about 4:30 a.m.

The calls were logged with initial remarks of the calls noted in the criminal complaint as noted below.

November 30, 2025:
At 11:20 p.m., Dicicco called Bucks County Communications and identified himself “Go fuck yourself Jim.” Remarks in the call: “Eat a D**k …. NFl.”

At 11:24 p.m., the caller ID said, “Patrick Dicicco” and 610-828-****. “Patrick Dicicco, says Ofc. Levitsky, lives on Radcliffe Street in the little blue house right behind the bridge and he’ll (Dicicco) be there tonight.”

At 11:34 p.m., Dicicco called the non-emergency line. “Asking someone familiar to call him, said 24 PD could “Suck-a-D**k” and was irate/curt at intake. Intake terminated non-emergency call after he said dispatch could “Suck-a-D**k” and was a f**king moron:

December 1, 2025:
At 1:27 a.m., “Tell Officer Levitsky he is going to get suckered punched at the stroll and to be on the lookout.”

At 1:38 a.m., “Making threats that officer needs to watch his back.”

At 2:02 a.m. “Compl (Dicicco) call backed requesting dispatch who said he made threats against officer and then was irate that dispatch couldn’t transfer to pd .. in between cursing/yelling, compl stated to tell Ofc. Levitsky he will gladly meet him., call was transferred to supervisor.”

At 2:14 a.m., “Angry that Sgt. called him from a blocked number and alleges he was threatened by federal agents.”

At 2:28 a.m., “Called for Sgt. numerous times.”

At 2:32 a.m., “Requested the Sgt’s name and badge number .. wanted Bristol Borough number … says he hopes (911) intakes’ mother dies and Officer Levitsky’s mother dies.”

At 2:37 a.m., “Calling and apologizing and then stated Sgt. threatened him stating he is homeless and currently living on his sailboat .. told intake “suck my d**k” yet again .. flipped back and forth between saying he can call all night and that he won’t be calling again., keeps asking for direct number to 2452.”

At 2:57 a.m., “Was calling the Sgt. names .. said that the officers “should watch their backs” saying they can “suck my dick” .. told intake to “Fuck off.”

At 3:03 a.m., “Tell that (racial slur) he ain’t catching me at shift change- tell your Sgt. to call me now.”

At 3:33 a.m., “Irate he requested a call from Sgt., says he was threatened by a federal agent.”

At 3:37 a.m., “Irate he  requested for a call from Sgt., says he was threatened by a federal agent.”

Levitsky and Faight were notified of calls directed towards and for them.

Because of the nature of the calls, threats and prior contact with Dicicco, Bristol Borough Police Department and Bristol Township Police Department maintained surveillance of Levitsky overnight because of potential threats to his safety and well being, investigators said in the probable cause.

Dicicco, according to police, beginning in October of 2024 and continuing to December 1, 2025 has been threatening and violent towards police officers and the general public when under the influence of drugs, alcohol and due to apparent mental health issues.

*Dicicco on the same date was arraigned in a second case by Bristol Borough Police on charges of simple assault, terroristic threats, public drunkenness and related offenses connected to a incident that occurred on Oct 11.

Dicicco, according to online court records is represented by Gregg David Shore, Esq. of  Pinnacle Legal Services in Bensalem.

Editor’s Note: It is not clearly outlined or identified why Mr. Dicicco, who is from Blue Bell, PA targeted Borough Police or what his connection to Bristol is.

Updated Tuesday March 10 at 11: 15 pm 

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick a Republican (PA -1) attended Monday night’s Bristol Borough Council meeting to announce he secured a $2 million federal grant Bristol’s new yet to be built centralized consolidated fire station.

“Last night, I was proud to attend the Bristol Borough Council meeting to formally deliver great news: $2 million in federal funding has been secured for Bristol’s new consolidated fire station” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

The congressman said he and and borough officials had been meeting in recent months to discuss the needs of the of borough first responders. And that  one issue was clear: firefighters were operating out of four aging facilities that no longer meet the demands of modern emergency response

Fitzpatrick said a single, centralized fire station that will strengthen coordination, improve efficiency, and reduce response times when seconds matter most was identified as a priority was included in the FY26 federal funding package so we could bring this vision to life.

The new centralized station will replace the outdated facilities with a modern, centralized hub for fire and emergency response, supporting both volunteer and career firefighters, officials have said.

The new fire station will include on-site living accommodations and with plans to house a Bucks County Rescue Squad substation, strengthening readiness and emergency coverage across the Borough and throughout Bucks County, officials said.

Fitzpatrick said, his office is working across the aisle so to speak, with state Rep Tina Davis’ office to secure as much funding as possible so there will be no cost to Bristol taxpayers.

Davis and state Senator Steve Santarsiero, just before the holiday season kicked off into full gear last year, announced a $1 million grant for the fire station.

Officials have estimated a $1o million price tag for the new centralized fire station. So far from state and federal grants the Borough has $3.7 million to get the project started.

Bristol Borough Fire Association President Steve Reeves said Borough first responders were truly grateful tp Fitzpatrick for his work on securing the funds for the station.

Reeves said the station will enhance public safety in Bristol Borough

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said he was determined to get the project moving forward.

“Just just for the record, we don’t have a firehouse design yet, but we’re very close. We’re working on a few issues,” he said.

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said he was determined

The funds come from the 2026 fiscal year federal funding package recently passed by Congress.

“I can’t think of a more worthy project” Fitzpatrick said.

Credit: Submitted