Police Chief Suspended After Officer Union Votes No Confidence

The chief of the Falls Township Police Department was suspended from his job Tuesday

The officers’ union – the Police Association of Falls Township (PAFT) – “regretfully” submitted a letter to the Falls Township Board of Supervisors and administration. They wrote: “we have lost all faith and trust in Chief (Nelson) Whitney’s ability to lead this department and serve the citizens.”

Early Tuesday evening, Falls Township confirmed Whitney was on paid leave.

“Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation related to allegations made regarding performance of his duties. Given that this is a personnel matter, Falls Township is not permitted to make any further comment,” Supervisors Chairperson Jeff Dence said in a statement.

Law enforcement sources said Lt. Hank Ward will run the department in an interim capacity.

Whitney, a longtime township lawman, became the chief of police for Falls Township in January 2021, but he served as acting chief for half of 2020.

Whitney wasn’t immediately available for comment.

According to the letter to township officials from union president Officer Edward Elmore, the membership voted by 40 votes for no confidence. Eight officers disagreed and one abstained.

The letter was obtained by LevittownNow.com Tuesday and confirmed by four sources close to the police department.

The police union told the administration and supervisors there have been problems with grievances and lack of an attempt to resolve them, an “absolutely toxic” work environment, and “non-existent” morale in the department.

“Chief Whitney displays a contempt for the officers under him,” the union president wrote in his letter.

“Recent officers that had successfully passed through a rigorous hiring process quickly became disillusioned with the workplace they had joined and fled back to a local metropolitan city. This city is considered one of the most undesirable places to work at but now is a more attractive option then the Township of Falls. This alone is an indication that we have failed as a police department,” the letter said.

The union president claimed a member of department leadership told him Whitney has five employees he wants to get rid of and “anyone else was collateral damage.”

The union president also stated Whitney has “continued and expanded ticket quotas as a practice within the department,” which he said are illegal under Pennsylvania law.

“One of the most repugnant aspects was when the Chief offered Wawa gift cards to any officer who could beat his ‘high score’ with tickets within a given month. This practice has also created an enormous financial liability for the citizens of the township. By statute all such citations are null and void, each may be required to be refunded. This liability increases with each passing day that this practice is not ended,” the union president said.

The union president also raised issue with Whitney describing officers as “hunters,” including in a video endorsement for training program “Street Cop Training.”

“He identifies himself, as well as our department, and publicly proclaims that his officers are ‘Hunters’ and that he will be sending his ‘Hunters’ there for more training. This is at odds with our department mission statement and delegitimizes the work of the professional law enforcement officers of Falls Township,” the union president wrote.

With the no confidence vote, the union said Whitney has hurt their relationship with the community.

The police department has faced lawsuits and formal complaints from officers in recent years. A female officer filed an employment compliant against the department within the past several weeks, sources said.

Whitney has privately told staff members, according to sources, that he has spoken with FBI special agents as part of an ongoing multi-agency investigation that has focused attention on the township, Pennsbury School District, and governments in Montgomery County. There has been no indication his suspension is connected to the investigation.

For years, there have been factions in the police department with differing views for the future of the agency. The divides have pre-dated Whitney becoming chief, but the situation has not improved since he became the top cop, according to multiple officers this news organization has spoken to in recent months.

Whitney has been known among his officers and those of surrounding departments for being hands on and conducting patrols while wearing a uniform with shotgun shells exposed from a holder on his protective vest.

Sources have said Township Manager Matthew Takita issued a directive to Whitney in mid-February to focus on more administration and to stop wearing a uniform with a “paramilitary appearance” because it could be seen as intimidating by residents.

Whitney has been active in the community and responsive with media requests since he became chief.

While Whitney has received criticism from some inside the department, he has received positive attention for his department’s program to install markers for victims killed in crashes and collecting supplies for Ukraine, which has won the department accolades from Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

When he was hired as chief, township officials noted his work on improving training and “data-driven, proactive policing to help address community issues related to drug abuse and traffic crashes.”

Over his career that started in 1988, Whitney has received numerous awards for his response to various incidents, including for the cold case of Terry Brooks, barricaded subjects, and life-saving efforts. 

In January 1995, Whitney was involved in an on-duty wreck where he crashed into a car driven by Louise Gribowich, 54, of Falls Township, at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and North Olds Boulevard when he was speeding back to the police station. The woman’s Ford compact car was determined to have turned into Whitney’s lane of travel, but he was also speeding, an investigation found. After a headline-grabbing dispute involving his discipline, Whitney was reinstated onto the force, according to articles published at the time by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Former Falls Township police Chief William Wilcox retired in 2020.

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