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Morrisville police chief outlines staffing gains, technology upgrades and central‑booking plans
Summary
Police Chief (identified as Scott/Chief Siampa) told council the department has pursued community events, training and equipment upgrades including county CAD reintegration, upcoming e‑citation, movement toward body cameras and plans to purchase central‑booking equipment in the first quarter of 2025.
At the Dec. 17 Morrisville Borough Council meeting, Police Chief (identified in the discussion as Chief Siampa/Scott) summarized roughly five months of department changes, highlighting community policing events, training initiatives and several technology upgrades intended to improve response and reporting.
The chief said the department reconnected to the county CAD system after an information‑technology upgrade, allowing real‑time dispatching and improved communication with county resources. He said e‑citation capability is coming soon and that body cameras — discussed previously — remain part of department planning. The chief told council he aims to purchase equipment for a central‑booking capability and that he wants a site inspection by the commission before scheduling the purchase; he said his goal is to make the purchase by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The chief also described officer activity and training: the motor‑carrier officer, Lou Hallis, is required to perform 70 full commercial motor vehicle inspections annually (each taking 45 minutes to 1.5 hours), and the department has increased staffing to allow those inspections to proceed. The chief praised officers for several incidents he described to council, including a same‑day arrest in a homicide investigation and two recent rescue incidents: one a woman on a bridge and another a young woman in the river. He singled out Officer Joe Perrell for taking physical action that prevented a suicide and said he intends to establish a formal awards program to recognize such acts.
The chief said staff have been visible at traffic enforcement (including speed enforcement on West Philadelphia Avenue) and that the department will continue those efforts once PennDOT installs truck‑related signage. He said the department collected about $250 in a Movember fundraising effort and delivered the money to Ivan’s Outreach Center.
Council members praised the chief’s work and expressed support for continued training and community engagement. The chief invited questions and thanked staff and community members for their support.
Next steps in the chief’s plan include completing the commission site inspection, finalizing equipment quotes and pursuing the planned purchases in Q1 2025; the department will also continue policy review and pursue e‑citation and body camera implementation as resources allow.
