Langhorne’s Police Chief Heads To New Job

After six-and-a-half years as the chief of the Langhorne Borough Police Department, Steve Mawhinney worked his final patrol shift Friday.

With his office mainly cleared out, Mawhinney worked late into the afternoon typing thank you letters and fielding visits from residents of the borough of roughly 1,600 residents.

“Langhorne Borough has been an extremely great experience,” Mawhinney said, adding the residents and business owners have been great to work with over the years.

Mawhinney begins his new job as chief of the Bucks County Rangers on Monday. the countywide law enforcement force patrols more than 9,000-acres of county property from the Delaware River to the border with the Lehigh Valley.

The 37-year lawman has worked in Bristol Borough and Tullytown before spending more than 20 years working in Bristol Township.

Coming to Langhorne Borough in 2011 was a “real culture shock” at first. Mawhinney said that Bristol Township cops were already running to calls and he was used to that fast-paced culture. In tiny Langhorne, the lawman had to get used to a slower pace that involved much more community involvement.

“Here, I’ve really grown in the area of community policing,” he said.

When Oliver Heckman Elementary School closed last year, parents noted that Mawhinney greeted students and parents every single morning. He would also sometimes pitch in and help a student button up in the cold or give them the positive boost they needed before heading into school for classes.

Mawhinney said residents have stopped by to drop off parting gifts and just chat with the chief one last time before he starts his new job.

Moving forward, Mawhinney said he will remain on the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Homicide by Vehicle Task Force, which investigators the most serious crashes across the county.

The chief said the borough is looking to hire his replacement and the county is allowing him to put in eight hours per week in Langhorne to concentrate on administrative duties for the small department until a new leader is hired.

“I wish the next chief as much enjoy as I have had here,” he said.