Wednesday night was one of my favorite nights of the year. It was our annual Lansdale Police Department (LPD) Awards Ceremony where we celebrated the hard work and accomplishments of our police department and staff for their service, commitment, and passion to our community.
The value of this night is not just in recognizing and the positive acts and commitments of officers in the department; it is an opportunity to share all the stories of how and why these officers should be recognized for their skill, their thoughtfulness, and their community development efforts that can sometimes go overlooked or unseen.
A perfect example were the actions of Sgt. James McVeigh and Officer Christian Gregory when they were dispatched to a call involving a young mother who was struggling to take care of her baby due to being unhoused. McVeigh and Gregory promptly helped the young mother find shelter via the My Way Home program; however, their service did not stop there. They dipped into their own pockets and bought diapers, wipes, formula, and other necessary supplies so that the baby could be well nourished for the days ahead. Their service to this community member was not just a kind act, but a potentially lifesaving one as well.
Additional examples of in-field actions worth of meritorious acknowledgement are Sgt. Amanda North’s and Sgt. Jeff Mallozzi’s squads during two of the most high-profile and high pressure challenges our community has faced: the SEPTA bomb threat on Nov. 7 and the apprehension of a Philadelphia murder suspect on Dec. 18.
On Nov. 7, a male caller reached Lansdale dispatch and told staff he was riding inbound to Lansdale on the R5 with an explosive device and that he intended to detonate it. Sgt. North’s squad was able to swiftly evacuate the incoming train but were unable to locate the suspect or the device. Moments later, officers learned of a second inbound train coming from Upper Dublin to Pennbrook station. Sgt. North’s team worked cross-jurisdictionally with Upper Dublin Police (UDPD), who were able to identify the suspect by the sound of his voice over the 911 call. Armed with a name and a picture, LPD alongside UDPD were able to evacuate the train at Pennbrook Station, apprehend the suspect — who did not have an explosive device — and bring a swift and peaceful end to this event.
On Dec. 18, Lansdale Police received a request from Philadelphia Police to assist in locating a homicide suspect whose last known location was somewhere in Lansdale Borough. Reportedly, the suspect was heavily armed and traveling with children. Sgt. Mallozzi’s squad began searching the area and reviewing surveillance footage to determine the exact location of the suspect. Surveillance footage revealed that the suspect was around Susquehanna Avenue. Within minutes, Officer Albany was able to identify the unoccupied vehicle and take up a surveillance position to see if the suspect would emerge from a residence. Once he came back outside and got back into his car, officers quickly initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Valley Forge and West Main to take the suspect into custody. At this moment, within seconds of having been pulled over, the suspect took his own life. Sgt. Mallozzi’s squad then located and ensured the safety of the children the suspect had been transporting prior to the traffic stop. Without regard for their personal safety, these officers bravely confronted a homicide suspect, known to be armed, and brought an end to his awful actions.
Not all the awards are about actions in the field. Some are about their dedication to their job and our community. The simple act of staying healthy is one of the most important acts an officer can do for our department. It guarantees that their shift will be fully staffed without having to spend overtime hours with other officers. An overworked staff can result in a daisy chain of stress on the department as a whole and can make an already difficult job even harder. I am proud to say Sgt. Jeff Mallozzi and Sgt. James McVeigh didn’t take a single sick day in 2022. In fact, Sgt. McVeigh has never taken a sick day since he was hired in 2018.
In addition to maintaining a healthy body, we recognized a commitment to our community development efforts throughout 2022 during the 150th celebration and our busiest events schedule ever. Sgt. Richard Bubnis and Emergency Manager Rick Lesniak committed themselves to helping the community safely navigate over 20 events last year. Their combined efforts made sure our community could honor its 150th birthday safely and in style. Their meritorious actions were certainly worthy of recognition and appreciation by all.
Finally, and arguably most prestigiously, we award one officer with Officer of the Year each year. This person is selected by their peers for their devotion to duty, commitment to your fellow officers, and overall performance as a Lansdale Police Officer. 2022’s Officer of the Year is Officer Hazel Bundy, who has repeatedly stepped up to help our community grow and develop over her time in our department. As a community you may have seen Officer Bundy at many local events helping to ensure the safety of our community. If you see her out in the coming months, please take a moment to congratulate her!
It is important to thank all the officers of our department for their steadfast commitment to our community. Their actions and persistent aid to our borough is in-measurable in its impact. As we invest in growing our department it comes with the knowledge that the new officers will be learning from some of the best in the Commonwealth as we can see from the actions of those recognized last night.
(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert. The views expressed are his own.)
See also:
Mayoral Musings: 2023 Infrastructure
Mayoral Musings: Goals and Objectives for 2023
Mayoral Musings: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Mayoral Musings: Attacks on Local Drag Queen’s Employment Another Example of ‘Otherism’
Mayoral Musings: Municipal 5G – Answering Reader Questions
