Police Chief To Drop Interim Post as Lower Makefield Township Manager

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —When the vacancy opened in June, Lower Makefield Township Police Chief Kenneth Coluzzi figured he was the obvious choice.

After all, not many people involved in the township's government had such a lengthy tenure.

"For 22 years, I'm probably the most senior official in Lower Makefield," the chief told Patch Tuesday afternoon. Coluzzi was appointed police chief in October 2000.

So when Kurt Ferguson left to become township manager in Upper Dublin Township in Montgomery County in June, Coluzzi stepped in.

"The board (supervisors) was trying to decide how to fill the void," Coluzzi said. "They were going to use a consultant but decided against that. I volunteered to fill that gap."

And on Wednesday night, Coluzzi will pass the baton over to a new township manager. Township supervisors are expected to appoint a new manager at the board's meeting Wednesday night.

That means Coluzzi will resume his role running a police department that has 41 sworn officers, five civilian officers and 15 crossing guards.

Prior to his tenure as chief, Coluzzi worked as a Philadelphia police officer in the 1980s and 1990s and investigated the "Boy in the Box" case in which the boy's identity was recently revealed.

Coluzzi had pitched in before when the township manager was out sick or on vacation.

"I would fill in for a short period," he said. "It wasn't hard for me to keep everything smooth. But it was a lot to juggle."

Coluzzi said he's looking forward to working with the new township manager and seeing what the new year brings for the township, its government, and its residents.

While Coluzzi will move on from the position, he said he would not have been successful without the support and cooperation of various departments.

"I was happy to jump in there and help," he said. "I had the pleasure of working with all the departments. I owe them a great debt."