The Falls Township Police Department will have a new top cop come 2021 when Falls Police Lt. Nelson Whitney takes the helm.
During Monday’s virtual meeting, the Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Whitney as acting chief effective Sept. 1 and police chief effective Jan. 1, 2021. He will earn $155,000 per year in his new position.
The Board accepted Police Chief William Wilcox’s separation agreement during the May virtual meeting. Wilcox is retiring from his long-time position at year’s end. He has been Chief since October 17, 2007. He was hired by the department in July of 1973. His current salary is approximately $150.000.00 annually.
Wilcox’s separation package includes a cash severance, extended health benefits for himself and family, and a life insurance policy among other benefits, officials said in May.
Lt. Whitney’s police career began in Falls Township on Aug. 9, 1988. His new chapter as acting chief and, come next year chief of police, will mark 32 years of police work.
“It has been an honor serving the community of Falls Township as a police officer for the last 32 years,” Whitney said. “I look forward to the challenges of this new position and thank the Board for their confidence in me. We have excellent officers in the Falls Township Police Department, and I am proud to serve with them.”
Lt. Whitney spent his first 10 years working as a police officer and EMT. In 1998, he transitioned to an investigator in the cold case homicide unit. He was promoted to detective in 1999 and detective corporal in 2002. In 2003, Whitney advanced to detective sergeant and served as supervisor of the detective division, a position he held for 10 years. In 2013, he was promoted to lieutenant, serving as the detective division commander for the following three years. In 2016, Whitney began his current role as lieutenant, serving as the patrol division commander.
As lieutenant, Whitney instituted a program of data-driven, proactive policing to help address community issues related to drug abuse and traffic crashes. He also developed a training profile for new patrol officers emphasizing proactive patrol and increased training of patrol officers in responding to active shooter incidents. Throughout his tenure, Lt. Whitney has served as an instructor for the Falls Township Police Department Youth Police Academy, Falls Township Police Department Citizens Police Academy, as well as the Bucks County Police Training Center and Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) of Bucks County. A lecturer at
Bucks County Community College and Pennsbury School District, Lt. Whitney has received numerous awards and commendations.
Falls Supervisors will honor the retiring Wilcox at later date in a public meeting the community can attend, officials said in May.