Bedminster Township Police Department is pleased to present our 2024 Annual Report to share and highlight our agency's accomplishments over the past year. The Annual Report provides a review of department activities, crimes, and initiatives.
Read the report here: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/sites/default/files/118010/post/2025/01/2024_btpd_annual_report_final_0.pdf
Here are some highlights from the annual report:
Police Incidents
Assaults: 7
Disorderly conduct: 23
Domestic disturbances: 63
Drug violations: 20
DUI: 14
Thefts: 29
Fraud: 41
Suspicious activities: 115
Assists: 216
Medical emergencies: 230
Follow-Up Investigations: 833
Traffic Safety
693 traffic citations
552 traffic warnings
1,469 traffic details
43 reportable accidents
59 non-reportable accidents
Worked 333 overtime hours as part of PennDOT driver safety initiatives.
Retirement of Chief Phelan:
"On July 30th, 2024, Chief Matthew Phelan retired from the Bedminster Township Police Department. Chief Phelan was employed by Tinicum Township Police Department from 1998-2007 and again from 2009-2020 as a Patrolman, Corporal, Sergeant, and Chief of Police. In 2007-2009 Chief Phelan served as the Assistant Director of Safety and Police at Bloomsburg University. Chief Phelan joined Bedminster Township as the Chief of Police in 2020. Chief Phelan will pursue a career opportunity at the Upper Bucks County Technical School where he will educate the next generation of local law enforcement officers. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Chief Phelan for twenty-six years of dedicated service to the communities he served. We wish him much success and happiness in the next chapter of his career."
Nick Virnelson named Interim Chief
"On August 14th, 2024, Sergeant Nick Virnelson was appointed by the Bedminster Township Board of Supervisors as the Interim Chief of Police. Sergeant Virnelson has been employed by Bedminster Township since 2013. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Administration of Justice, a master's degree from PennWest University in Law and Legal Studies, completed the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Association."
Bedminster Township's Organizational Chart
The department is led by Virnelson, and below him is Sgt. Mark Thompson of the Traffic Unit, who oversees Officers James Zukow, Trevor Dalton, and Dan Chonko.
The department Investigations Unit is led by Officers Stephen Pekach and James Browne.
Rounding out the department are Civilian Community Relations Specialist/Victim Advocate Laurie Hepler and Administrative Assistant Trish Kantor.
Training
Officers conducted 948 hours of training.
"In-Service Training: Each police officer is required to attend 12 hours of Mandatory In-Service Training regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission. These trainings provide officers with supplemental and refresher training in different areas (First Aid/CPR, legal updates, BolaWrap and Taser, defensive tactics, communications) depending on departmental needs."
Specialized Training:
• LEEDA Leadership Conference and Trainings
• Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command – Sgt Virnelson graduated in February and Sgt Thompson began in December
• Instructor Development
• Drug Investigations
• Standard Field
• First Aid/CPR
• BolaWrap & Taser
• Defensive Tactics
• Traffic Safety
• Traffic Patrol/Drug Interdiction
• Sex Assault Investigations
• Missing Children
• Human Trafficking
• Response to Active Threat
• Bloodstain Patterns at Crime scenes
• Drone Training
• Interacting with Persons with Autism
