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NEW HOPE: Doylestown’s lieutenant now New Hope’s new chief

Chief Michael Cummings said Doylestown and New Hope present similar challenges

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   NEW HOPE — Doylestown Borough police Lt. Michael Cummings has been chosen as New Hope’s next police chief.
   Mayor Laurence Keller swore in the new chief Jan. 14 as a full house looked on.
   Family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers from surrounding communities filled the cafeteria at New Hope-Solebury High School where the council holds its monthly meetings. A tall wall of blue uniforms lined the back of the room and halfway up the side walls.
   Clearly well-liked, Chief Cummings received several standing ovations from the crowd that filled just about every seat.
   Chief Cummings said Doylestown and New Hope present similar challenges.
   ”It’s very much like Doylestown Borough,” he said. “It has the same problems. It’s going to be very familiar. It’s kind of like a real nice fit for me.”
   Chief Cummings will begin working for New Hope on Jan. 28 with an annual salary of $85,000.
   After the new chief was sworn in, the borough hosted a meet-and-greet with refreshments in an adjoining cafeteria.
   Chief Cummings, 55, called his new job a “professional milestone,” saying it is “something that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and I can’t wait to start.”
   Up until now, his entire 31-year career in law enforcement was spent in Doylestown Borough. He called it his “first real job” where he has done numerous types of work, including operating a polygraph, working as a K-9 officer and an investigator, conducting internal affairs probes and also working as a DARE officer.
   Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Chief Cummings has lived in Warminster since 1971 with his wife of 33 years, Betty. They have two children, a 30-year-old daughter and a 28-year-old son.
   ”He’s a good listener; he’s very, very competent,” Mayor Keller said. “His track record speaks for itself. He listens well, and I think he’ll be very inclusive.”
   The mayor said the new chief would put together his mission statement and “reach out” to the community, the merchants, residents and the council.
   ”I’m just thrilled we were able to get him,” Mayor Keller said. “Not a person said anything negative about him. That’s not easy to do, and it’s to his credit. Hopefully, Chief Cummings will have a long and successful tenure here.”
   Solebury Township Police Cpl. Jonathan Koretzky was part of that tall wall of blue that looked on as the new chief was sworn in. He has worked with Chief Cummings in the Central Bucks Special Response Team, a multi-jurisdictional agency that responds to high-risk incidents in central and upper Bucks County. He agreed Chief Cummings appears easy going, but added, “He’s extremely professional.”
   Sgt. John Goss has been the officer in charge in the New Hope Police Department three times in 11 years, most recently over the past seven months while the town looked for a replacement for Chief Rick Pasqualini, who became the chief of the Newtown Police Department on June 1.
   ”They’ve been interesting experiences,” Sgt. Goss said. “Hopefully, Chief Cummings will have a long and successful career here. I’m delighted to have him aboard.”
   Mayor Keller said the New Hope Police Department “did a great job” in their months without a chief.
   ”Sgt. Goss is just a trooper,” he said. “He has the respect of the other officers.”