EXCLUSIVE: Bristol Twp. Cops Alleged Love Triangle Comes to Light, Complicates Staffing

A Bristol Township Police Department manpower shortage has grown more complicated in recent weeks with three officers being off of  work after being involved in a purported  love triangle of sorts, LevitownNow.com has learned.

A Lower Bucks County police official described recently that one 0n-duty officer was observed having intimate relations with another officer, who is married to another township cop. The female officer involved was said to be off duty at the time. The sexual interaction between the two officers  is suspected to have taken place in a Bristol Township police cruiser.

Moreover,  a second source anonymously mailed documents to LevittownNow on Friday. The documents include a Bristol Township Police Department a roll call time sheet  showing  three officers alleged to be suspended.

A confrontation between the two male officers involved ensued on September and forced a ranking officer to break up the altercation, sources say.

Tim Fuhrman, president of the Bristol Township Police Benevolent Association, would not confirm or deny the suspensions or alleged activity any officers. However, he did say there is an “ongoing investigation into the matter” and staffing levels for the department are “not being affected at this time.”

Staffing became an issue for the department when officers were laid off  in 2012 as a result of what township officials described as  a financial crisis. In May, Fuhrman, told this hyper-local news source, “there are currently 62  officers  including the Chief of Police and Lieutenants. The number working patrol and criminal investigations are obviously fewer.” It has previously been suggested by Fuhrman and a police source that 80-85 officers would be reasonable to patrol a jurisdiction the size and population of  Bristol Township.

In the same story, the PBA president is quoted, residents voiced concerns about staffing of the police force and a perceived increase in crime was cited, departmental sources said additionally.

LevittownNow.com previously reported that call times had increased during peak hours since the layoffs and several patrol officers have voiced their concerns about staffing levels to officials and residents. During some shifts, according to an unnamed source in the patrol division, officers have been delayed for extended periods of time due to call backlogs.

The three officers involved, according to the documents received by LevittownNow, had their township issued firearms taken away. The same letter alleges a “manpower shortage” due to the behavior of the officers involved. It goes on to suggest the “offenses” by the officers are “fireable.”

When contacted by phone, Lt Terry Hughes said, “I can’t comment one way or another” about any of the allegations being made and that there was an investigation taking place.

Bristol Township Police Chief James McAndrew and Township Manager Bill McCauley could not be reached for comment at press time, however, messages were left with their respective secretaries.

Union officials were asked if there was anything in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the township  touching on a morality/ethics clause in reference to the dubious behavior purported by sources,  to which the union responded there wasn’t, however, there is a “journal orders duty manual which spells out a code of conduct for officers” which they are supposed to abide by and if any officer is in violation of that code it is up to the chief of police, what if any action should take place.

Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, contacted Monday afternoon, said his department was not involved in any internal affairs investigation involving the incident. He said his investigators involvement would come at the request of the Bristol Township Police Department.

LevittownNow.com Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield contributed to this story.