About Chief Daniel J. Friel

Chief Daniel J. Friel is a 29-year employee of Warrington Township and only the fourth Chief of Police in Township history. He began his career with the Township in 1996, serving in several public safety roles including Fire Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Deputy Fire Marshal, and Acting Fire Marshal before becoming a Warrington Township Police Officer in 2000.

During his second year with the police department, Chief Friel was selected as a patrol supervisor (Officer in Charge) and Field Training Officer. He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2007, Sergeant of Detectives in 2010, Lieutenant in 2013, and Deputy Chief in 2015, before ultimately being appointed Chief of Police.

Throughout his career, Chief Friel has completed extensive specialized training in leadership, command, supervision, field training, SWAT operations, counterterrorism, criminal investigations, and narcotics enforcement. He served for ten years as a tactical operator and team leader with the Bucks County South Central Emergency Response Team, a regional SWAT team that provides coverage to Warrington Township. He was also an organizer and original founding member of the Bucks County SWAT HAZMAT Team, established in 2005. In that role, he traveled nationwide for advanced Homeland Security training focused on Weapons of Mass Destruction and counterterrorism.

Chief Friel is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Command Institute (2008) and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (2010). In 2015, he was selected to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a premier executive-level professional development program for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. He graduated from the 260th Session in June 2015. Fewer than one percent of law enforcement officers are selected to attend this academy.

In 2022, Chief Friel served as President of the Delaware Valley Association of Professional Police Officials (DVAPPO). In 2023, he was elected President of the Police Chiefs Association of Bucks County (PCABC), serving two years in that role, and currently serves as Chairperson of the Executive Board. In 2024, he was elected to the Executive Board of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PCASP) as a delegate representing Bucks County, a role he continues to hold.

Also in 2024, Chief Friel completed the FBI–Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) program, earning the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award after completing the Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI), Command Leadership Institute (CLI), and Executive Leadership Institute (ELI).

Under Chief Friel’s leadership, the Warrington Township Police Department has proactively addressed the challenges associated with rapid township growth. He is credited with advancing the department to the next level, particularly in strengthening its relationship with the community. With the support of Township leadership, he oversaw the largest capital building project in Township history, culminating in the department’s move into a new 18,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art police facility in 2020.

Another major achievement during his tenure was the department’s successful attainment of Pennsylvania law enforcement accreditation in 2021. The Warrington Township Police Department is now an established Accredited Law Enforcement Agency and achieved its first reaccreditation in early 2024. Additionally, under Chief Friel’s emphasis on professionalism and training, approximately three-quarters of the department’s officers have earned individual police accreditation through continuing education programs offered by Bucks County Community College and the Police Chiefs Association of Bucks County.

Developing and maintaining a strong professional reputation remains a top priority under Chief Friel’s administration as he continues to prepare the department for the future.