Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Falls To Develop Blight Prevention Effort

Published

2 years ago

December 14, 2023

Falls Township officials are approaching the ever evolving problem of blighted properties with a multi-prong approach employing a human services element as part of of the solution.

Named the “Falls Cares Program: Action with Compassion, Township Manager Matt Takita, Code Enforcement Officer Melissa Haxel, and the Township’s police co-responder, Cara Gadzinski are creating a data based tool to help in rectifying blighted properties, officials announced.

“The blighted property could be anywhere from a hoarded house to one that is in such disrepair that it requires demolition to one that has high grass and weeds and debris,” Takita said.

Takita’s plan is to work with the code enforcement department, the police department and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the coming year.

Takita, who also serves as the code enforcement director, wants to ensure inspectors properly enforce blighted conditions, including issuing violation notices and proceeding through the court system.

Working with the police department and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will identify types of crime in neighborhoods to determine if there’s a trend in data related to property conditions.

“What happens with the crime rate if we eliminate these types of blight issues?” Takita asked.

The township’s police co-responder, also a specially trained social worker paired with Falls police, will offer guidance in addressing the “human side” of blight issues, said Takita.

It’s an approach that reflects the police department’s commitment over the last few years to provide human services based preventive measures in taking on growing challenges. The reduction in overdoses within the confines of Falls, through the hiring of Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) has contributed to that reduction, according to police officials.

In instances of hoarding or when a property requires demolition, a resident would be displaced. While it is “easy to write a violation,” doing so does not solve the underlying problem, officials said.

“We reset the problem clock,” Takita said. “We’ve just bought more time.”

Instead, the co-responder would work with residents to determine the underlying cause of hoarding, for instance, and identify resources to get property owners help through a network of resources that Falls is developing. The co-responder would also connect property owners with junk removal companies, landscapers and other businesses that could help remedy the situation. By offering resources, Falls hopes to prevent repeat blight problems and provide property owners with needed assistance, said officials.

“We want to be able to help the residents out,” Takita said.

Supervisors Chairman Jeff Dence said that while there are only a few blighted properties throughout the township, taking the initiative to correct the root cause of the problem will help in the long run.

“By working together, we can continually improve the quality of life for our residents and business owners,” Dence said. “Through our ‘Falls Cares Program: Action with Compassion,’ we hope to instill a greater pride of ownership and offer help to folks struggling with property maintenance and upkeep.”

Takita expects to develop the program throughout the course of the next year, understanding that it will “constantly evolve” and that “every situation is not exactly the same.”

“Maintaining good housing is important to the community as a whole,” said Takita, who has worked for Falls Township for a little more than four years. “Coming into Falls, that’s one of the first things I looked at: What does Falls have as far as their property maintenance program?”

Related Topics:Falls Cares Program: Action with Compassion

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Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Joanne Ames

Credit:: Veinna Carcel

Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.

A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.

Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.

Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.

Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.

Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.

Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.

Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.

Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.

Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.

Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.

Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.

Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.

Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.

Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.

Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.

The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.

Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.

Click here for updates from the National Weather Service

Click here for PECO’s outage map.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Fairless Hill Man Arrested on False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault Charges After Text Breakup

Published

3 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

Jo Ames & Jeff Bohen

A 27-year-old Fairless Hills man is facing serious charges after his game of emotional blackmail involving his ex girlfriend got him three days in jail on aggravated assault, false imprisonment, terroristic threats and related charges.

Jonathan Boerner was taken into custody by Falls Township Police on the morning of Jan 24 and arraigned by on-call District Judge Joseph P. Falcone. Falcone set bail at 10 percent of $150,000. Boerner was remanded to County Jail for about three days and was released when bail was posted.

According to the probable cause, police were dispatched to the Commons of Fallsington Apartments on January 23, 2026 at 9:38pm. Bucks County Radio (BCR) advised officers the female complainant’s ex-boyfriend allegedly forced her to stay at his house in the 600 block of Trenton Road in Fairless Hills for three hours, physically assaulted her, and threatened her with a gun.

Arriving officers noted the victim was visibly shaking and said she was afraid for her life, officers wrote in court papers.

She explained, police said in court papers, she recently broke up with Boerner through texting. He refused to end the relationship over text and pleaded with her to meet in person, forgetting it only takes one person to end a relationship.

The victim told the police she arrived at his residence around 5:15 pm, and they entered his bedroom, The two talked for approximately 30 minutes, where the victim said she ended the relationship. Boerner then exited his bedroom and allegedly returned with a gun. The victim described the gun to be a “black pistol/small firearm,” and said Boerner recently bought the firearm from an unknown source and it was not registered to him.

Boerner then pointed the gun at his head saying “I’m going to kill myself,” the victim told police.

The victim, told police, she was terrified, took her phone out, and pleaded with Boerner to allow her to leave. He then grabbed her right arm, shoved her onto the bed, saying he was going to kill her, and she was not leaving, He then shut the bedroom door and blocked her from leaving.

Boerner allowed her to enter the living room 30 minutes later, but locked the front door, the victim said.

After another argument, the victim asked to go outside, which Boerner allowed, but demanded her to leave her keys in the living room, and to leave her phone in her pocket.

While outside, Boerner threatened the victim, saying if she attempted to run away, he was going to grab her and kill himself, the victim told police.

The young woman somehow convinced Boerner to let her leave at approximately 8:15 pm to “grab food”.

She left and instead immediately went home and called police.

The victim again told on scene police officers she was afraid for her life while Boerner was wielding the gun and had bruised her right arm, during the incident.

She was instructed, around 11:00 pm, to text Boerner to meet her out front of his residence to “talk about their relationship”. It was at this time police staged in proximity of Boerner’s residence. Boerner then exited his residence, attempting to evade police, in which a short foot pursuit ensued, according to the probable cause.

Due to the facts and nature of the incident, according to police, the possibility of Boerner concealing a firearm, and Boerner’s permit to conceal carry, the original officer deployed his taser, taking Boerner to the ground. Boerner continued to resist police and was eventually taken into custody.

He was read his Miranda Rights, which he said he understood and agreed to talk with police.

Police said, he denied having a gun, but said he had owned them in the past but no longer has any. Boerner admitted to grabbing the victim and throwing her on the bed.

He is scheduled to appear for a April 8, 2026 court date. Boerner, according to court records, is represented by Michael Kotik, Esq. of SKA Law Firm in Philadelphia.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Falls Twp Police Officer Retires After 39 Years of Distinguished Service

Published

4 weeks ago

February 7, 2026

Jeff Bohen

After serving residents for nearly four decades the longest tenured Falls Township Police officer Jonathon Caesar, announced his retirement last Sunday Feb 2.

Fellow officers lined the walkway into the newly completed home of the Falls Township Police Department last Sunday congratulating Caesar, wishing him a fond farewell.

Prior to policing the residents of Falls Township, he served his country as an active-duty member of the United State Marine Corps, before serving Bucks County as a Correctional Officer. Over the course of his career Officer.

Caesar was an accomplished member of the Bucks County South SWAT Team, a member of the Police Honor Guard Unit, was an Emergency Medical Technician, and a Drill Instructor for the Youth Police Academy.

Credit: Submitted

Well before working into his 39th year, Caesar earned the distinction of knowing just about everyone in Falls Township and the surrounding communities, while almost everyone also knew him.

His personal and professional life experience, and larger than life personality made him both approachable and relatable, as he was always able to charm, and disarm, when needed, the most volatile of people and situations.

Caesar was also incredibly courageous, and as tough as they come, each and every one of their police officers benefitted from the knowledge and mentorship when needed.

Officer Caesar served this agency and community with distinction, honor, and genuine care, police officials said

“His legacy consists of the countless lives he’s impacted and the knowledge, guidance, and mentoring he provided so many officers that came after him. Congratulations on your well-earned retirement, Jonathon, you will be greatly missed!”