Retired Lower Makefield Police Chief Receives Accolades

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —One month after announcing his retirement, Police Chief Kenneth Coluzzi received accolades at a recent Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Newtown Township Police Department, Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, and representatives from State Rep. Perry Warren and U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s offices.all came out to pay respects to Coluzzi, who was retiring after a nearly 50-year career in law enforcement.

"I’ve worked with Chief Coluzzi in several capacities over the years and I have always been impressed with his compassion and professionalism," Santarsiero said. "Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, Chief Coluzzi."

Coluzzi announced his retirement in December, marking the end of a 48-year career in law enforcement.

For 24 years, Coluzzi led the Lower Makefield Township Police Department while also taking on roles as the township's emergency management coordinator and temporary township manager.

Coluzzi began his career in Philadelphia in 1978 and rose through the ranks, highlighting many violent crimes and murder cases.

Coluzzi oversaw some of the city’s highest-profile investigations, such as the rape and murder of Shannon Scheiber, the collapse of Pier34 Club Heat, the fatal shooting of Philly Police Officer Charles Knox, and the 1991 murder of Cigna Employee on the JFK Parkway by Hahnemann Hospital Psychiatrist Jean Claude Pierre Hill.

Coluzzi worked for the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit in the 1980s and 1990s with duties that included heading the special investigations unit and fugitive squad.

He was also deputized as a U.S. Marshal for the apprehension of dangerous fugitives and later supervised the FBI Federal Fugitive Task Force.

During that time, he also investigated the unresolved homicide in North Philadelphia known as the "Boy in the Box."

It was the case of a young boy found beaten and wrapped in a blanket in a box in Philadelphia that finally was resolved in December 2022.

YMFC President Larry Newman and Chief Glenn Chamberlain presented Coluzzi with a plaque thanking him for his years of support to the fire company and wished him a happy retirement.

The Newtown Township Police Department thanked Coluzzi for being a partner to Newtown Township and the police department.

In addition to the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors past and present, Ken was recognized by many Law Enforcement agencies across the region including; the FBI, US Secret Service, US Marshall Service, Bucks County Chiefs of Police Association, Bucks County Detectives, as well as many elected representatives such as U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, PA Senator Santarsiero, PA House Representative Perry Warren, Bucks County Commissioners, and District Attorney Jen Schorn.

Police and Emergency Services agencies from across the region packed the Lower Makefield Township meeting room as well as many community and family members "to show their respect and appreciation to a great leader who gave so much to help so many," the Newtown Township Police Department said.

(Yardley-Makefield Fire Company)

(State Sen. Steve Santarsiero)