Longtime Bensalem Cop Booked For DUI After Crash: Report

BENSALEM, PA — A Bensalem police lieutenant was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing in Newtown, a report said.

Lieutenant James Donnelly was not on duty, but was driving a Bensalem Township vehicle when he crashed on the Newtown Bypass, said the report in the Bucks County Courier Times. The crash happened near Woodbourne Road shortly before midnight and police said the vehicle had to be towed from the scene, according to the report.

District Attorney Jen Schorn told Patch her office is aware of the allegations against Donnelly. She confirmed he was off duty and in a Bensalem Township-owned vehicle that was not a marked patrol vehicle.

"Our office will handle this like we would any DUI investigation and prosecution," Schorn said.

Donnelly has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the investigation's outcome, Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey told Patch.

According to an archived copy of Donnelly's profile on the Bensalem Township Police website, he has been with the department for more than 20 years. He graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy in 1999.

Donnelly became the Administrative Service Commander for the department in 2023, and has other command responsibilities including: the Communications Unit, School Security and School Resource Officers, Fire Police, Animal Control Officer, Crossing Guards, Police Activities League Program (PAL), and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E).