New Hope Borough Welcomes Full-Time Police Officer

NEW HOPE BOROUGH, Pa. - The New Hope Borough Council on Tuesday hired a new part-time police officer and promoted another to full-time.

Mayor Larry Keller administered the oath of office to Officer Cole Midwood who has been with the department for one year and seven months. Cole’s mother, Nancy, held the Bible as her son took the oath and his father watched from the audience.

“He’s a great kid. And he’s just been terrific,” said Mayor Keller, adding that the borough is fortunate to have him since its proficient part-time officers are often hired by other outside agencies before a full-time opening occurs.

Cole is a graduate of Abington High School where he played high school football. He also is a 2019 graduate of the Montgomery County Community College’s Municipal Police Academy.

In his short time with the department, Officer Midwood has received several commendations for his actions.

In 2021, Mayor Keller said Officer Midwood successfully talked a man out of a suicide attempt at the free bridge. “This young man used his knowledge and his training to talk the man down and get him off of the railing and then bring him in. It takes a lot of savvy to do what he did.”

In another incident, Officer Midwood convinced an accident victim that it was in her best interest to go to the hospital. She was refusing to go with the rescue squad to the hospital and Officer Midwood convinced her it was the better choice to make. “It turned out that she had an aneurysm and the officer saved her life. If she had not gone to the hospital she may have died,” said Keller.

And in a third incident, Officer Midwood was conducting a car stop for a violation. “One thing led to another and he found drugs and guns in the car,” said Keller.

“Just being alert and attentive, that’s the kind of officer that we’d like to have. He’s here to be a police officer and to do his job,” said Keller. “He’s going to be a great addition to our full-time force.”

The hiring brings the borough’s force back up to a full complement of nine full-time officers.

Also during the meeting, council voted unanimously to hire Ryan Maloney as a part-time officer.

Maloney, a resident of Upper Black Eddy, is a graduate of Palisade’s High School, the Pennsylvania State University and Temple University. He will be paid $24.50 an hour.

In other action at the meeting council unanimously approved special event permits for the “Run Now, Wine Later” 5K Race in September and for the 65th Annual New Hope Car Show on August 13 and 14 at the New Hope-Solebury High School.

Council also approved certificates of appropriateness for renovations at the Parry Barn at 52 South Main, extensive renovations to the Farley’s Bookstore building at 44 South Main, a new fence at 104 New Street and replacing a roof, siding and repainting part of the building at 2 Stockton Avenue.

During public comment, a resident raised concern over a recent rape that took place in a borough alley.

Police Chief Michael Cummings assured the resident that the incident had started out as a consensual event between two young people. He said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Resident Ed Duffy raised concern about several businesses that have been soliciting pedestrians into their stores with free items. “Some people have been walking on the other side of the street to avoid ‘the hustle.’ Is this New Hope? Is this the town we want?”

A number of council members said they, too, cross the street to avoid ‘the hustle.’

Council Vice President Laurie McHugh, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Connie Gering, said the borough has been receiving complaints and “it’s being addressed,” she said. “Keep complaining about it. The more complaints we have, the stronger we have a case of harassment.”

Chief Cummings said he has also received complaints. “I spoke to both of the owners of the businesses today. They told me they are going to suppress their aggressiveness.”