Middletown honors officers and firefighters for life‑saving response and investigations

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors on March 21 honored several police officers and firefighters for life‑saving responses and investigative work.

Chief Bartirillo presented commendations for the Jan. 25 head‑on crash on Brownsville Road near Butterworth Lane. He said Officer Derek Leonhauser “responded almost immediately within about 30 seconds” and used a fire extinguisher to suppress an engine fire until firefighters arrived. According to the chief, Officer Michael Stum then helped free the driver’s legs and pulled the occupant from the vehicle before the engine became fully engulfed; Firefighter Colby Fisher used a spreader tool to open the door so the extraction could proceed.

The recognition extended beyond that crash. Chief Bartirillo presented a commendation for Sergeant Matthew Kreuss for a contractor‑fraud investigation that recovered $150,000 of $162,000 owed to a Langhorne family and closed the matter without filing criminal charges. The chief also praised a traffic stop handled by Officer Mark Leonhauser on Jan. 14 that led to recovery of 14 stolen catalytic converters and related tools; Detective Wayne George was commended for coordinating the broader investigation with neighboring jurisdictions.

“These actions reflect credit upon the entire Middletown Township Police Department,” Chief Bartirillo said as he introduced the awards and noted the notations would be placed in personnel files.

The board also presented Officer Mark Leonhauser with a 25‑year service certificate, recognizing his long tenure on the night shift. No formal votes were required for the commendations.

The awards underscore the township’s focus on coordinated emergency response and investigation across departments and with regional partners; the chief invited questions and thanked the board for allowing the recognitions.