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Towamencin police commend officers for theft probe, award distinguished unit citation
Summary
Towamencin’s police department presented a letter-of-merit nomination for Officer James Bonner for a multi-jurisdiction theft investigation and awarded a distinguished unit citation to officers involved in a January vehicle-pursuit and arrest, the chief told the board March 26.
Towamencin Township police highlighted two recent cases at the March 26 Board of Supervisors meeting that drew community attention and internal commendations.
The police chief described the first case, a November 11, 2024 theft series affecting several Detwiler Road businesses that totaled nearly $24,000 in stolen construction equipment and tools. The chief said Officer James Bonner took initiative as the patrol officer on the call, obtained an image of the suspect vehicle, shared leads with neighboring departments, and helped obtain search warrants that produced evidence and led to an arrest. "He decided to take this and run with it," the chief said, and Bonner was submitted for a letter of merit to be placed in his personnel file.
The department also announced a distinguished unit citation for a multi-officer response to a January 6 incident at the Tomenson Condominiums complex on Bunker Hill Road. According to the chief’s account, officers located a stolen Chrysler 300, pursued occupants who fled on foot, and — with assistance from a Montgomery Township K-9 team and detective follow-up — developed fingerprints that identified suspects believed to be part of an organized theft group. The chief read the citation naming Sergeant Travis Wood, Officer John Slaughter, Officer Brandon Keenest, Detective Sergeant Daniel Jesko, Detective Patrick Kilroy and police specialist Alyssa Ciancerulo for the award.
Why it matters: The board highlighted the actions to show cross-jurisdictional cooperation and investigative follow-through. The township said the letter of merit and the unit plaque will be added to personnel files and the police department’s permanent recognition wall, respectively.
The board chair and meeting attendees offered public thanks to the officers for their service. The department did not announce further operational changes at the meeting; the cases remain in the court process as described by the chief.
