The Falls Township Police Department expanded its police force with the addition of two new police officers.
During Monday’s Falls Supervisors meeting, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Francis Baluyot and Michael Kubek.
Police Chief Nelson Whitney said the department was “very happy” to have Baluyot and Kubek as police officer candidates in Falls Township.
Baluyot was originally born in the Philippines after which he emigrated to the U.S. He grew up in Parsippany, N.J. Baluyot has served in the U.S. Army National Guard since 2011 and is currently a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He is also a student at American Military University, where he is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Intelligence Studies. He lives in Parsippany with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
Kubek grew up in Warminster Township. He has been a Bucks County Correctional Officer since 2021, following in his father's footsteps, a veteran of the Bucks County Correctional Center for the past 17 years. Kubek currently lives in Huntington Valley with his family.
In other police-related business, the Supervisors authorized advertisement of an ordinance related to parking. According to township attorney Lauren Gallagher, the various proposed changes to the ordinance were requested by the police department and would remove several restrictions that police said are no longer needed, including allowing vehicles to park on Vermillion Way from Trenton Road to Vermont Lane. If adopted, the ordinance would remove the permit parking only during school hours restriction to the following areas: Barberry Lane from Black Pine Lane to Buttonwood Lane; 88 Buttonwood Drive; Bluespruce Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 82; Bluespruce Lane from No. 101 to and including No. 69; Briaroot Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 80; Briaroot Lane from Birch Drive to and including No. 75; Black Pine Lane from Upper Birch Drive to and including No. 42; Black Pine Lane from Upper Birch Drive to and including No. 37; and Upper Bird Drive from Black Pine Lane to the township line.
Photo caption:
Michael Kubek (from left, front) Police Chief Nelson Whitney and Francis Baluyot were formally hired as police officers during the June 24 Falls Supervisors meeting. The Falls Supervisors are (back, from left) Jeff Boraski, Chairman Jeff Dence, Vice Chairperson Erin Mullen and John Palmer. (Not pictured: Supervisor Brian Galloway)
