Lieutenant Claude Frisbie Reaches Milestone

In January 1974, there were four traffic lights in the Township and the Exton Square Mall was brand new. The Board of Supervisors had just created a Police Department and one of the first Officers hired was Claude Frisbie, a two-year veteran of the Tredyffrin Township PD. In January 2009, he celebrated 35 years with the Police Department.

Following two tours in Vietnam with the US Army 101 st Airborne Division, Claude returned to the US to pursue a career in law enforcement. He saw the offer to work in West Whiteland Township as an opportunity to play a leading role in the creation of a new Police Department with great potential. From 1974 through 1988, “Friz” served as a patrol Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1988 and led a patrol team until being promoted to Lieutenant in 1999.

This promotion placed Lieutenant Frisbie in charge of the entire Patrol Division; directing operations, coordinating training, and providing scheduling for four patrol teams. One of his first initiatives was the creation of a Traffic Unit to address the substantial traffic issues in the Township and to better serve its citizens.

On this important anniversary, we salute Lieutenant Claude Frisbie for his accomplishments with the Police Department and for his service to the citizens of West Whiteland Township .

Officer Matt Herkner Promoted

Officer Matt Herkner was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the Board of Supervisors in January. “Sergeant Herkner” earned top ranking after an internal promotional exam process and will now lead and supervise a patrol team.

After joining WWPD in 1996, Sergeant Herkner served as a patrol Officer. In 1999, he became the Police Department’s first K9 Officer. He and his four-legged partner, Beny , performed an array of Police services, to include drug searches, suspect tracking, building searches, and missing persons searches. The Department has received much praise and thanks for the critical services Matt and Beny have provided to West Whiteland Township and to neighboring municipalities.

Throughout his career in West Whiteland, Sergeant Herkner has earned numerous commendations for performance above and beyond the call of duty. He is always one of the Department’s best performers and was named “Officer of the Year” for 2005.

The family of Kenton Iwaniec -- the 24-year-old Avondale state trooper who died March 28 after suffering traumatic injuries in a drunk driving crash -- issued a written statement Thursday night in response to admitted drunk driver Kristina Quercetti, 41, of London Grove receiving an 8.5 to 17 year state prison sentence. Read the family's statement here: IwaniecStatement.pdf

PSP Embreeville Lt. Doug O'Connor retires from the state police today after serving for 20 years.

O'Connor has served as lieutenant at the Embreeville station in West Bradford since April 2008. O'Connor said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

A native of Upper Darby, Delaware County, O’Connor enlisted in the State Police in 1988. Following his training at the State Police Academy in Hershey, he was assigned to Troop J, Avondale.

As he progressed through the ranks, O’Connor also served at Troop K, Skippack. He was promoted to corporal in 1993 and to sergeant in 2003.

O’Connor served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 to 1988.

Sgt. Brandon Daniels will be acting as station commander until a replacement is selected.

At Monday's East Marlborough Township meeting, Officer Robert C. Clarke, Jr. was promoted to Lieutenant of the East Marlborough Police Department and was sworn in by Supervisor Cuyler Walker.