Bristol Twp. Cop Retires After 38 Years On The Job

A longtime Bristol Township law enforcement officer has retired after nearly four decades of service to the community.

Pete Hollenczer, who grew up in the township, was honored for his service during the Bristol Township council meeting last week.

Hollenczer was first hired back in 1978 as a police dispatcher, where he then served as the abandoned vehicle officer, animal control officer and even a police mechanic. Hollenczer later tested for a police officer position in 1988, where he responsibly served for the last 28 years.

“His broad knowledge base and his knack for understanding how things work made him the obvious choice for any assignment that included careful attention to detail and record keeping,” reads a statement from the police department.  “Officer Hollenczer’s value as a patrol officer is evidenced by the relationships he built with businesses and residents in his sector and by the many commendations he received over the years from residents, fellow law enforcement agencies, and emergency service providers.”

Hollenczer was most notably recognized for his work as an officer last year, when he noticed the lights were out on the top of the Silvi Cement Plant silo at the Riverside Industrial Park. Hollenczer’s quick reactions led to the recovery effort of a missing employee who was buried when a cement silo collapsed.

While he wished to retire last February, Hollenczer agreed to serve one more year as an acting sergeant through a transitional period within the department.

Township officials called Hollenczer an exceptional human being and police officer, one who will be sorely missed.