News from Upper Makefield

November 2026

Police Department Promotions and Hiring

At the 10/20/26 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board promoted Officer Harry Vitello and Officer Josh Kowalski to Sergeant and swore in one new officer, Karli Krug. All were sworn in to their new roles by Justice Michael Petrucci.

Harry Vitello joined the Upper Makefield Police Department on January 7, 2008. He is a 1997 graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey and has an Associate’s Degree from Montgomery County Community College.

Prior to joining the Upper Makefield Police Department, Officer Vitello served overseas as an International Police Liaison Officer under the U.S. State Department as the lead mentor and advisor to the Afghanistan National Police Force.

During his time in Upper Makefield, Harry has been a Field Training Officer and a member of the Bucks County Drug Task Force. Currently, he is

an Assistant Leader for Crisis Negotiations on the Central Bucks Special Response Team.

Josh Kowalski joined the Upper Makefield Police Department on January 19, 2018. Prior to serving in Upper Makefield, he worked for West Chester University Public Safety and Villanova Public Safety. Josh holds a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice and is currently working on his Master's Degree.

Sergant Kowalski is certified in Advanced Highway Safety and is an accident reconstructionist. He is also the Police Department's Defensive Tactics Instructor.

Officer Krug is a graduate of the Philadelphia Police Academy. She formerly served as a Philadelphia Police Officer, was an EMT with Newtown Ambulance, and was a Bucks County 9-1-1 dispatcher.

Successful Movie Night!

Upper Makefield Township’s first Movie Night brought an estimated 75–100 neighbors to Brownsburg Park on October 24 to enjoy Hocus Pocus under the stars. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fun fall evening! Special thanks to John Kennedy Dealership for generously sponsoring the entire event and making this community gathering possible.

Shop with a Cop

The 9th Annual Shop with a Cop event is scheduled for December 5, 2026. In partnership with surrounding departments, Upper Makefield officers volunteer their time to shop with elementary and middle school students from Lower Bucks County who are facing a challenge or hardship. Officers are paired with children for an afternoon of shopping and holiday festivities.

Shop with a Cop is funded through generous donations from our own community, private sponsors and local businesses. Volunteers from the community help with gift wrapping, hosting, and registration. Each child receives a gift card to purchase gifts for family members and themselves to help brighten their holiday season.

If you would like to show your support with a donation, send a check or Venmo the UMT PD. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated.

Call For Volunteers

Interested in serving on a Township Board or Committee? Most appointments are made each year in January and we encourage anyone with an interest to apply. Learn more on the township website where there is also an application to apply.

From the Fire Marshal

HOLIDAY ELECTRICAL FIRE SAFETY & AWARENESS

According to the National Fire Protection Association 1000+ home fires are caused by electrical decorations each year. An additional 210 home fires are caused by Christmas trees each year. Follow these steps to insure you decorate your home safely during the winter holidays.

- Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use

- Never connect more than three strings of incandescent light

- Do not overload circuits as they can overheat and start a fire – fuses that frequently blow and circuits that trip can indicate too many items are connected to the circuit

- Keep your Christmas tree fresh by watering daily

- Use battery operated candles

- Keep combustibles at least three feet from heat sources

- Protect electrical cords from damage – do not run under carpets, through doorways or where they can be damaged by furniture

- Check illuminated decorations for a UL safety check label

- Stay in the kitchen when something is cooking

- Turn off, unplug all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the home

- Never remove the third prong on a plug

- Be sure to choose the right light strings and decorations as they are rated for indoor or outdoor use

- Keep outdoor connections above ground and out of puddles, don’t run them across driveways or walkways

- Ensure that your SMOKE ALARMS ARE WORKING! Sit as a family and discuss what to do and where to go if smoke alarms activate!

Questions? Call 215-968-3340 and I’ll be happy to return your call promptly.

John C. Kernan IAAI-CFI(V)

Chief Fire Marshal FM-272

Upper Makefield On YouTube

Upper Makefield has established a YouTube channel for the broadcast and storage of Board of Supervisor meetings and other relevant content. Below is the video of the 10/20/26 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Subscribe to the channel to get notified of new content! We also livestream Board of Supervisor meetings to both Youtube and our Facebook page.

Roundup

Ready Bucks

Sign up to receive emergency alerts when you register with Ready Bucks. You choose how to be notified - phone, email, text – to receive time-sensitive information affecting our area. To receive text and/or email alerts related to Energy Transfer/Sunoco pipeline activity in Mt. Eyre Manor, follow this link.

Permit Reminder - Most Home Improvements Require Permits

From decks and driveways to sheds and solar panels, most home improvements in Upper Makefield Township require a permit from the Planning & Zoning Department. Find permit applications and project checklists on the Township website.

Permitting can take several weeks, so please plan ahead by submitting early and calling or emailing the Planning & Zoning office with any questions before you submit your application.

Please Follow the Township Facebook Page

You can follow Township updates via the Township Facebook page. Residents have long enjoyed reports from the Township Police Department page, so we hope you’ll now follow both.

Washington Crossing Bridge

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) is conducting a multi-year environmental assessment of alternatives to improve mobility and provide a safe and reliable river crossing for the Washington Crossing Bridge to connect Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC meets monthly, and the next meeting is on Monday, November 23, at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is held in Yardley. There is a video option to participate. Meeting details can be found here.