New Warminster Police Chief Sworn In

In a meeting room packed with his family, friends and co-workers, Warminster's new Chief of Police James Donnelly III was sworn into his new office Thursday night at the township's board of supervisors meeting.

Donnelly was appointed acting chief when former Warminster Police Chief Michael Murphy left his post to become chief of police for the Upper Moreland Police Department.

"Lt. Donnelly has worked hard and prepared throughout his career to one day achieve his goal of becoming a police chief," said Leo Quinn, chairperson of the board of supervisors, in a prepared statement. "He has persevered for the moment he can raise his hand and be 'The Chief,' because he loves police work and respects his father, who has been 'The Chief' he aspires to be throughout his career. It was with great pleasure that I had the honor of swearing in a 17-year member of OUR Warminster police department, who earned the privilege of now being called Chief James Donnelly III, of Warminster Township."   

With the promotion, Donnelly and his father, James Donnelly, Doylestown Borough's police chief, have become the first father-son team to occupy those offices in Bucks County.