PRESS RELEASE - UD Adds Ten Police Officers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 23, 2021

Contact socialmedia@upperdarby.org 

UPPER DARBY ADDS 10 POLICE OFFICERS IN LATEST ROUND OF THE MOST QUALIFIED AND DIVERSE CLASS IN TOWNSHIP HISTORY

UPPER DARBY, PA: Mayor Barbarann Keffer and Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt swore in 10 new officers of the Upper Darby Police Department yesterday: Brian J. Brown, Joseph Cristello, Jr., Jacob Daniels, Dean DiCrescenza, Desiree Forlini, Mazen Malak, Luke McCann, Haley O’Connor, Ostap Royik, and Thomas Sharp, Jr.

“All of these officers will be valuable additions to our renowned Police Department,” Mayor Keffer said. “They are setting a great example for others who aspire to public service, and they are helping us revitalize Upper Darby by serving the community in this capacity.”

“Our vision is to reflect the community that we serve in Upper Darby,” Superintendent Bernhardt said. “These officers are in great hands, and we are committed to giving them all the tools necessary for success. The UDPD has 133 sworn officers who are committed to bettering their community.” 

Mayor Keffer noted that the new group of officers are part of a bigger wave of changes within UDPD. “We are looking forward to continuing to reinvest in the Police Department, including the addition of body cameras,” Mayor Keffer said. “We are also working to expand community policing, and we are aggressively pursuing grants that will help us modernize the department.” 

The new officers are eager to start the next chapter of their careers in law enforcement, and many of them already have deep roots in the Upper Darby community. Officers Brown, Cristello, Malak, O’Connor, and Sharp are all graduates of Upper Darby High School, and Officer DiCrescenza is a graduate of Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School. Officer Royik, who is originally from the Ukraine, emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 3 years old, then became a U.S. citizen at age 18. Officer Malak said he sought a position with UDPD because he appreciates what a diverse and welcoming community Upper Darby is, and he is proud to represent the Arab and Muslim community in his new role. For Officer Sharp, joining the Police Department is special to him because he is following in the footsteps of his father, retired UDPD Lieutenant Thomas Sharp, Sr.

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