DOWNINGTIOWN — The Downingtown Police Department has a new chief.
Brendan Brazunas was sworn in as police chief of the 20 officer force on January 2.
He recently served as a lieutenant with the Upper Merion Township Police Department. Brazunas said he is honored to work in Downingtown.
The top cop has been on duty in the borough for six weeks.
“You have to build a certain degree of trust,” he said, during Tuesday’s phone interview. “It goes both ways with the community and the officers themselves.”
The Downingtown Area resident talked about working in a police/fire department environment where everybody knows everybody.
“Regardless of what you hear you don’t know what to expect,” he said. “It’s important to set the tone and earn trust.”
The Philly sports fan said he works hard to not create a situation where he is walking in the door and viewed as wanting fellow workers to “kiss my ring.”
“(Co-workers should) trust that I’m going to direct the organization in the right direction,” the married father of two said. “But I don’t want to jump too far ahead.
“They are putting a lot of faith and trust in me.”
The outdoorsman started as a civilian in the Upper Merion Township Police Department in June of 1999 and attended the police academy in July of 2000.
“I always wanted to be a police officer from the womb — as far back as I can remember,” the avid reader of crime mystery novels said.
The University of Lynchburg, Virginia, graduate also worked as Chester County EMS coordinator. For about 18 months he first served as a civilian with the police department. He noted that at that time policing was different.
He learned much in diverse Upper Merion for where he said is typically referred to as “Hub of the East.” He noted that the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other major highways cross the township.
Brazunas said that working with individuals with different socio-economic backgrounds in Upper Merion “keeps you honest.”
“The diversity of residents keeps you on your toes,” he said.
The Borough of Downingtown had a population of 7,898, with the 2020 Census count. It measures 2.22 square miles, with the Lincoln Highway (parts are Route 30) running through it, which stretches from the east to west coasts. The mayor is Democrat Phil Dague.
Downingtown was originally named MIlltown due to its many mills along the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek.
Downingtown was named after Thomas Downing, a Quaker immigrant and mill owner, from Devon England, in 1812.
