WARMINSTER, PA —Over the past year, the Warminster Township Police Department has seen several new officers come on board the force.
Police Chief James Donnelly seems to bring forward a new police officer before township supervisors every other month.
And it’s always a festive occasion.
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The meeting room at the Warminster Township Municipal Building is always filled with family and friends and many of the men and women in blue who come to greet the new members of its ranks.
At the township’s final meeting of 2023, that scene was repeated once again.
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Brian Salquero, 24, was the recent addition.
Salquero was born and raised in Trenton, N.J., and the chief said he is a first-generation Latino with his family from Guatemala.
“I’m excited. I’m ready,” the Levittown resident told Patch before taking the oath of office from District Justice Daniel Finello Jr. with his grandparents —who came from Guatemala to witness the ceremony — next to him and a packed house seated in front of him.
Salquero graduated from the Montgomery County Police Academy after six months there.
As a civilian hire, he hit the streets immediately following his swearing-in at the Dec. 14 meeting for 12 weeks of field training.
Salquero earned a criminal justice degree and played Division II soccer.
He also had an internship with the Lakewood (N.J.) Police Department where the chief said Salquero saw the impact of what police officers do in the field.
Donnelly hoped that the new officer would help bridge the gap between the Latino community and law enforcement.
“It’s nice to get some fresh new blood,” the judge said. “It’s a tribute to the board of supervisors. I’m excited about Brian. We have a diverse population and he will be a great help. The community will identify with you.”
The police officer hiring scene will probably happen repeatedly at future supervisors’ meetings as well.
Donnelly told Patch that there were still two slots open for full-time police officers to join the force.
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