News >> Browse Articles >> Law Enforcement News
Video Captures Territorial Pennsylvania Officers Brawl
Video Screen Capture
Pocono Record via YellowBrix
March 25, 2011
COLWYN, PA — In a bizarre territorial dispute, police officers from neighboring towns outside Philadelphia began brawling while a woman lay injured on the ground nearby, myFOXphilly.com revealed Thursday.
Newly released video of the fracas shows officers from the Colwyn and Darby boroughs of Delaware County arguing over which police force should have responded to the incident.
The confrontation happened last Friday when an officer from Colwyn arrested a man on the street who allegedly punched a woman in the face. The cop had crossed from Colywn into Darby to respond to the incident.
Officers from both boroughs — including Darby’s police chief — soon arrived on the scene. The chief began arguing with the Colwyn officer, who was sitting in his patrol car.
On the video, other Darby officers can be heard trying to calm the chief down. But the argument escalates.
The chief shouts, “Get out of Darby,” as the Colwyn officer gets out of his patrol car and then has to be restrained.
Meanwhile, the victim lays on the ground as emergency crews work on her.
Former Darby Mayor Paula Brown told myFOXphilly.com that the Darby police chief had created a territorial atmosphere in Delaware County.
“Many times, he has restricted Darby officers from going to Colwyn and restricted Colwyn officers from coming into Darby. He has manipulated the department,” she said.
“It makes us look like the laughing stock of the county.”
Chief171
about 2 years ago
3184 Comments
Very unprofessional. I see that a Resignation is in order.NOW ....
1baggdHD
about 2 years ago
1374 Comments
wow- crazy. We had something like this almost happen in San Diego. The city of Coronado ( one officer in particular ) hated coming onto the Naval base to handle civilian matters, and hated us driving out in town to catch suspects. It just made him look bad- we are all trying to do the same job regardless of the uniform...
AKangel
about 2 years ago
4824 Comments
Wow! Bump rod3245
cmm07r
about 2 years ago
696 Comments
laughing stock...AGAIN!?
tx45
about 2 years ago
130 Comments
That chief needs to resign or ask to resign. This is a brotheerhood , and all he is doing is making it hard on the citizens. He has embarrased his department,his officer and the city. He has forgotten the basic rules of policing. YOUR FRIED..UH FIRED
Collegecop_WA
about 2 years ago
2380 Comments
Additional details ont he story here:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8023070
Well so much for mutual aid and mutual respect between departments. If that asinine Darby chief wants to foster bad blood between neighboring jurisdictions, can his sorry ass and put someone who appreciates being backed up by his brothers and sisters (no matter where they get paid from) when things need doing in charge. We all bleed blue on these streets, no matter if you are a city cop, town marshal, county deputy, state trooper, game warden or federal agent. We are one team in a shared profession and we have no use for jackasses like Chief Smythe who want their own little dictatorship.
Anonymous
about 2 years ago
Disgraceful. Absolutelty disgrace. This chiefs ego has put his departments reputation on the line! The chief needs to go and get a new one needs to be appointed that wants whats best for everyone.
uncledennis1
about 2 years ago
22252 Comments
Give the chief his walking papers. This could be the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start all over. Does it make them look like the laughing stock of the county? Does Raggady Ann have cotton breasts?
DonnaLynn
about 2 years ago
9342 Comments
What the heck! Bump rod3245. What happened to having each other's backs? We've assisted other agencies and had them do the same for our S.O. Jurisdictional/territorial B.S. What's this guy's real issue is my question.
jims4
about 2 years ago
2610 Comments
And when this chief has a problem who is the first to come to his aid? Colwyn officers would be there johnny on the spot. What a jerk.
woodya
about 2 years ago
70 Comments
Immediate termination. Power wanting SOB. Black ball from LE.
rod3245
about 2 years ago
716 Comments
I always thought there was enough work out there for all of us, regardless of jurisdiction. Additionally, when I called for help, I really didn't care what color the uniform was, we all bleed the same color.
Scurge
about 2 years ago
1238 Comments
I knew a Sheriff and Under Sheriff like that Darby Chief. They really hated when another agency got something technically outside their jurisdiction.
TreeHugger719
about 2 years ago
462 Comments
This is UN,SAT....Maybe, just maybe, they should start letting the Sheriffs Dept. do what they are supposed to do and than you might not have these issues. And furthermore the "initial" officer was covered under the PA Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act, 42 Pa. Cons. Statute. Section 8953 (5). That Chief needs to go, he is harmful to his department, the community and Law Enforcement as a whole.
Gunns
about 2 years ago
5206 Comments
How very unprofessional.