Police Chief Selected By New Hope Council Following Exhaustive Search

NEW HOPE BOROUGH, PA — The New Hope Borough Council didn’t have to look far for its next police chief.

On Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to hire Solebury Township Police Sgt. Kevin Edwards to replace retiring Chief Michael Cummings as the town’s chief law enforcement officer.

Council also voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve an employment agreement with Edwards that includes a negotiated compensation package.

Edwards was selected after what council president Ken Maisel called a “significantly exhaustive search process” conducted by SafeCity Solutions, a public safety consulting firm retained by the borough last fall to help with the recruitment of a new chief of police.

“We all feel confident in our selection and we’re thrilled to have Sgt. Edwards as our chief of police,” said Maisel. “We’re glad to have him on board.”

According to Mayor Larry Keller, the applicant pool began with between 38 and 40 candidates. The field was then narrowed down to 10, each of whom were asked to submit a video and to answer a series of police-related questions.

Six candidates were then selected to participate in one-on-one interviews with four active and retired police chiefs. They also took additional oral and written tests and were presented with a scenario that they were asked to resolve.

“When we combined the scores together we narrowed it down further and had to make some decisions. The result is our selection tonight of Sgt. Edwards,” said Mayor Keller.

“We felt he was the most qualified with the most experience. He has all the tools and skills to be our next chief for many years to come,” said Keller. “I am very confident that Chief Edwards is going to be a welcome addition to our community and to our police department.”

Sgt. Kevin Edwards holds a Bald Eagle he helped to save last spring on Pidcock Creek Road. Also assisting were Ofc. Anthony Viruet-Melendez and residents of Pidcock Creek Road. The injured bird was transported to the Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where it was treated and eventually released. (Solebury Township Police Department photo)

Edwards will officially begin his new duties on May 6 after being sworn in by Mayor Keller. A more formal swearing in with family and friends will take place at the May council meeting.

Edwards comes to New Hope Borough from neighboring Solebury Township where he is second in command to Police Chief Dominick Bellizzie.

A Pennsbury graduate, Edwards holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer in Tullytown Borough in 1990.

For the past 30 years, Sgt. Edwards has been a member of the Solebury Township Police Department where he has has moved up through the ranks to sergeant and second in command.

Edwards is married with two sons. In his free time, he enjoys walks with his wife and watching sports.