Last evening, Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, Bensalem Township Council and Director of Public Safety William McVey recognized residents, local businesses, civilian employees and police officers for outstanding service to the community.  Brian Guay, Pat Anthony Ponticelli, Robert Holt, Corporal Robert Schwarting and Bensalem Beer and Soda all received awards.

Brian Guay is a public works employee who assisted Bensalem Police with the discovery of a hidden trap in a seized vehicle.  The trap contained 15 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of 1.6 million dollars.

Pat Anthony Ponticelli, a Bensalem Paramedic and citizen Robert Holt teamed up to detain a suspect who had just forcefully robbed a woman of her purse in the Wawa on Bristol Road.  They took the suspect to the ground and held him until police arrival.

Corporal Robert Schwarting and K9 partner Bowie were awarded the Bensalem Township Police Department's 2021 Officer of the Year award for their dedication, loyalty, vigilance, teamwork and overall job performance throughout the year.  As a team, they confiscated firearms, high capacity magazines, illegal narcotics; conducted numerous searches; made numerous arrests and were awarded the Top Dog Award in the United States Police Canine Association Police Dog Trials.

Bensalem Beer and Soda played a key role in the identification and capture of the suspect in the Homicide of Chiropractor James Sowa on November 2, 2020.  The cooperation of employees and management helped remove the alleged murderer from the streets of Bensalem.

Please join Mayor DiGirolamo and Bensalem Township Council members in congratulating these worthy recipients.