The crowded meeting from front to back and spilling out into the adjacent hallway at the Lower Makefield Township Municipal complex spoke volumes to the respect and impact of two items on the agenda Wednesday evening.
The swearing in of newly hired Chief of Police Joe Kelly III.
The honoring of Yardley Makefield First Responders for their rescue efforts at a dwelling fire last February. (Story coming).
Lower Bucks Source was first to report Lower Makefield Township offered the position to Kelly last month. This was after former Chief Ken Coluzzi retired late last year after 24 years of leading the department.
Officials and representatives from every level of government attended the event, including officials from New Jersey. This took some locals, who were there to talk about concerns related to “open space” in the township dwindling, by surprise.
“We’re very excited and honored to have Chief Kelly join us here in Lower Makefield. His extensive experience in both municipal and transit law combined with his commitment to community engagement, departmental accountability, fiscal responsibility, … and data-driven policing makes him an excellent choice for us,” Chairman Dan Grenier said.
“I appreciate the opportunity and the trust placed in me by the LMT Board of Supervisors. I will work tirelessly with the men and women of the Lower Makefield Township Police to ensure the safety of everyone who lives, works or visits in the area,” Kelly said when Lower Makefield officials offered him the job.
I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for their faith in me, Kelly said at the ceremony, asking everyone in the meeting room to look around them at the officers and command staff for the Lower Makefield Police Department, citing that chiefs usually get credit for the good work done by those they supervise.
Kelly brings over three decades of law enforcement experience, including significant leadership roles in municipal and transit policing, making him an exceptional choice to lead the Lower Makefield Township Police Department at the time his hiring became official.
Meanwhile, Yardley Borough officials announced that Sgt. William J. Golden III as acting Chief of Police earlier this week.
Golden has been with the YBPD since August 2005. Prior to his hiring by Yardley, Golden served in the United States Army (Active) as a U.S. Cavalry Scout, with deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, officials said.
During his tenure with the YBPD, Golden has served as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Rifle Instructor, Weigh Master, Child Safety Seat Tech, Highway (motorcycle officer), Juvenile Officer, and Patrol/Admin Sergeant, said officials.
Golden was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in January of 2013, according to borough records.
Golden served “…under Chief Joseph Kelly for the past ten years and plans to continue to provide Yardley Borough with the type of policing Yardley Borough is known for, while continuing to protect the community, businesses and visitors it serves,” Yardley officials said.
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