Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Daniel Steele, commander of the Avondale barracks, updated Pennsbury Township supervisors and residents on the past year’s state police activity in the township. He said the number and types of calls varied little from the previous year.
Steele said that in 2022, police responded to 964 calls, investigating 141 criminal incidents, 64 crashes, and 45 property thefts in Pennsbury. By comparison, in 2021, his barracks received 954 calls and investigated 140 criminal incidents, 73 crashes, and 38 property thefts.
In response to questions from residents and supervisors, the lieutenant said he recommends putting electronic speed awareness signs on township roads so troopers can use the data to figure out the best times to patrol those roads. However, he said the township can’t put the signs on state roads, such as Route 52. Only PennDOT can do that.
One resident also asked about response time. Steele said the worst response time is 8-10 minutes if a trooper is responding from the Avondale barracks. But he added that at least one trooper is always monitoring Pennsbury. Due to the number of townships Avondale covers — 17 — troopers might be responsible for two or three townships at a given time. But troopers on patrol would be closer and respond more quickly.
Steele said his barracks is roughly 90 percent staffed, which is about average. Recruiting officers to join the force proved challenging this past year. He said when he joined the force in 2002, 17,000 people took the written test to become a trooper. In 2022, fewer than 1000 people were tested.
Pennsbury does not have its own police department and relies solely on the state police for coverage.
About Ellie Vasko
Ellie Vasko is a 2022 graduate of Unionville High School and a rising sophomore at George Washington University. She has written for the GW Hatchet and Unionville Post. She is interning with Chadds Ford Live this summer.
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