HTPD Social Media Admin

Deputy Chief Joseph Hagan
Joseph Hagan was appointed as a Patrolman with Haverford Police on December 24, 1993. Prior to that, he served with Chester Township Police Department. Significant Events of 1993:
1. Bill Clinton was sworn into office, Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize, and a blizzard struck the East Coast.
2. The year saw the release of popular romance movie Sleepless in Seattle, along with hits like Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Free Willy.
3. Fashion trends included straight-leg blue jeans, and popular footwear included Doc Martens, Air Jordans, and Converse shoes.
4. The 1993 Philadelphia Eagles overcame injuries and deficits, winning 4 of their last 6 games and demonstrating resilience by coming back from 10+ points three weeks in a row.
5. The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League Pennant and ultimately lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games during the World Series.
Career Highlights:
Joe served as a patrol officer, field training officer, investigator (before they were called detectives), patrol sergeant, special operations sergeant, patrol lieutenant, and ultimately as Deputy Chief. He was an operator, team leader, and commander on the Special Response Team, as well as commander of the Major Incident Response Team (MIRT).
He graduated from the FBI National Academy, Session #252, in 2013.
Awards & Recognitions: Over his 32-year career, Deputy Chief Hagan received:
• 3 Commendations of Merit
• 13 Distinguished Unit Citations
• Several letters of commendation
• The Heroism Award
Evaluation: As a sergeant, the Lieutenant at the time noted:
“Sergeant Hagan has assumed his new duties as a patrol sergeant in an aggressive, enthusiastic, and professional manner. He has quickly earned the respect of the men and women in his platoon, as well as the rest of the department. I consider him to be a huge asset to the department.”
Community Impact: Joe received many thank-you letters from the public. One particular note from a mother expressed appreciation for his professionalism and compassion in helping her daughter, a crime victim:
“Detective Joe Hagan was present and acted not only professionally but also with genuine care. This was very comforting to my daughter. Over the next several days, I was contacted by Detective Hagan, who informed me that the suspect had been apprehended. Knowing that the suspect was in custody eased not only my family's worries but especially my daughter's.”
We thank Deputy Chief Hagan for his years of faithful and dedicated service to both the department and the community. We wish him many happy and healthy years of retirement.

Detective Matthew Hufnal
Detective Matt Hufnal was appointed to the Haverford Township Police Department on January 15, 1993, and served with distinction for 32 years.
Significant Events of 1993: • A gallon of gas cost $1.16.
• The average cost of a new house was $116,000, and the average income was around $31,000.
• Michael Jordan walked away from the game—undeniably one of the greatest basketball players of the century—earning $4 million annually, to pursue his dream of playing baseball.
• The Jurassic Park franchise debuted, dominating the box office.
• Ty Inc. released their first series of tiny stuffed animals, known as "Beanie Babies."
• Whitney Houston declared, “I Will Always Love You,” a cover of Dolly Parton’s song that topped the charts. Career Highlights:
Matt served as a Detective for 24 years, also contributing to the Honor Guard, Bike Unit, and SRT Team. His personal appearance was always impeccable.
Prior to joining the department, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm, as a sentinel for Marine One (the President’s helicopter), and with the Washington D.C. Metro Police Department.
Awards & Recognitions:
Detective Hufnal received:
• 2 Commendations of Merit
• 13 Distinguished Unit Citations
• Several letters of commendation
Notable Cases & Community Service:
• In 1995, he earned a Commendation of Merit for locating and arresting a suspect involved in abducting a woman—his exceptional investigation led to her safe recovery.
• He was part of the team at the Dupont Siege in January 1996 as a member of the SRT.
• In 2014, a grateful family praised his work after he handled a jewelry theft case, noting his caring and professionalism. Chief Pettine responded, “He is an outstanding officer and a credit to the Haverford Police Department.”
• A crash victim from 1994 expressed feeling safe with officers like Hufnal on duty, emphasizing his high caliber and value to the force.
• A supervisor commended him as a "professional, dependable, loyal, and dedicated individual," with judgment and decision-making above others.
Additional Contributions:
Matt investigated and solved numerous cases, including bank robberies, jewelry thefts, drug arrests, and more. He also authored a book about the first Chief of the Haverford Township Police Department, Ed Hallisey.
We thank Detective Hufnal for his dedicated service and wish him many years of a happy, healthy retirement.

Detective Michael Flynn
Detective Michael Flynn was appointed to the Haverford Township Police Department on September 13, 1991, following his service in the United States Army as a Military Police officer. He graduated first in his class from the Philadelphia Police Academy in February 1992 with a GPA of 98.68.
Over his 34-year career, Detective Flynn served the department in numerous roles, including Telecommunicator, Bicycle Officer, School Resource Officer, DARE and REACH Officer, Field Training Officer, SWAT Officer and Team Leader, SWAT Instructor, Detective, Juvenile Officer, Community Policing Officer, and Evidence Custodian. He also served as a Standard Field Sobriety Testing Instructor for Temple University Police Academy and the Park Ranger Academy, and was active with the PA Crime Prevention Association.
Detective Flynn played a key role in establishing the department’s first DARE program and DARE golf tournament, the Citizens Police Academy, the transition of the SWAT team to the M4 rifle, and community initiatives such as REACH and Coffee with a Cop. He was frequently selected for complex and demanding assignments, which he carried out with professionalism and dedication. Throughout his career, he received at least 17 unit commendations for critical incidents, including armed encounters, along with two commendations of merit and one for bravery. His service was recognized by Haverford Township Police, the Township Board of Commissioners, the FBI, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, and the Military Order of the World Wars. He was also widely praised by educators, students, and supervisors for his leadership, professionalism, and positive impact on youth and the community.
Detective Flynn’s career reflects a lifetime of service, innovation, and commitment to public safety. He leaves behind a lasting legacy, and we wish him a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement.

Left to Right: Sgt. Shant Bedrossian - Sergeant Dennis Donnelly

Sergeant Shant Bedrossian was appointed to the Haverford Township Police Department on February 2, 1990. A lifelong Haverford Township resident, he graduated from Haverford High School and Temple University with a degree in Criminal Justice, and previously served as a seasonal officer with the Ocean City, NJ Police Department.
Over 35 years of service, Sgt. Bedrossian worked in Patrol, Investigations, Special Operations, and Administration, serving in numerous roles including patrol officer, accident investigator, bicycle officer, juvenile officer, DARE officer and instructor mentor, hostage negotiator and team supervisor, Special Operations Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, and Administrative Sergeant. Along the way, he mentored countless officers.
During his career, Sgt. Bedrossian received the Award for Heroism, two Commendations of Merit, four Unit Commendations, and four Letters of Commendation. He was widely respected by both colleagues and residents, receiving many letters from citizens praising his professionalism, compassion, and dedication—especially for his calm and caring response to community members in need.
Recognized as a strong and effective leader, Sgt. Bedrossian was known for leading by example, offering constructive guidance, and maintaining constant awareness of the township’s needs. His impact on this department and community is lasting, and we thank him for a lifetime of service as we wish him a well-deserved and meaningful retirement.

Sergeant Dennis Donnelly was appointed to the Haverford Township Police Department on June 15, 1990. Over a distinguished 35½-year career, he served the department and community with dedication and professionalism.
Dennis served 15 years as a patrolman before being promoted to Sergeant in October 2005. Throughout his career, he worked in patrol, the Radio Room as a dispatcher, the Bike Unit, and the Special Response Team. In 2016, he was assigned as Detective Sergeant, where he supervised the detective unit, assigned and managed investigations, and oversaw the Evidence Room, including its transition to the new police building in 2017. Under his leadership, thousands of items of evidence and property were properly recorded, maintained, and disposed of, and he made it a priority to clear expired evidence to ensure efficient operations.
During his career, Sgt. Donnelly received seven Distinguished Unit Commendations and one Letter of Commendation for outstanding police work, major incidents, and teamwork. He was also recognized for his character and commitment to service, exemplified by an incident in which he went above and beyond to assist a distressed resident at police headquarters. Following in the footsteps of his father, a police officer, Sgt. Donnelly was known for his calm, steady demeanor and “old-school” approach to policing—knowing his area, leading quietly by example, and taking action when needed.
We thank Sgt. Donnelly for his many years of dedicated service and wish him a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement.

PD Admin

The Haverford Township Police Department provides an On-Line Police Blotter. The initial page will contain the current month of weekly reports. These weekly reports will contain listings of the various law enforcement incidents, events and other occurrences of interest to residents of Haverford Township. We hope to utilize this new tool as a means providing an open line of communication between the Police Department and the residents we proudly serve.