Remembering fallen police officers in Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, Pa. – Members of the Newtown Borough Police Department paused Sunday morning to remember fallen Officer Brian Gregg at Newtown Cemetery.

Nineteen years ago, Gregg was shot and killed in the emergency room at St. Mary Medical Center.

“We are gathered here today to remember Officer Brian Gregg and the sacrifice he made for the residents of Newtown Borough and his colleagues. We truly miss him every day,” said Chief James Sabath, noting that Gregg’s presence continues to be felt every day at the station and through the badges placed on county patrol cars in his memory.

“Many of us were not fortunate enough to meet Officer Gregg, but we heard many stories after the fact. We’re sorry we didn’t get to meet him,” the boss said.

Colleen Rosenthal, a former Newtown County police officer who often worked with Gregg while on duty, said Gregg enjoyed being out in the community and interacting with the public.

Remembering Officer Brian Gregg at Newtown Cemetery are (from left) Colleen Rosenthal, Police Chief James Sabath and Sgt. Sean Orr, Officer George J. Rusinko IV and Officer Charles Gorski.

“Brian and I started working together because we got along,” she said. “He loved business checks and community events — anything that gave him a chance to mingle and socialize,” she said. “One of my favorite memories of him is his love of creamy peanut butter bars
Newtown Chocolatier.”

Chief Sabath said Gregg left the department a legacy for community policing to follow by leading by example by walking downtown, talking and interacting with people. “That legacy lives on in the department. I’m sure he would be happy with the direction the department has taken in terms of the different things we’ve done and the different things we’ve accomplished.”

Officer Gregg had just started as a full-time officer after serving as a part-time officer when tragedy struck. He was shot dead on September 29, 2005, after a prisoner in St. Mary’s emergency room managed to obtain his partner’s service weapon.

The 46-year-old officer and his partner were guarding a suspect who had previously been arrested
That evening he was convicted of drunk driving and taken to the hospital for blood and urine tests.

While in the emergency room, the man began fighting with officers. He gained control of the second officer’s service weapon and opened fire, striking Officer Gregg in the chest. The man also shot the second officer in the chest and wounded a hospital technician. The prisoner then walked up to Officer Gregg, who was lying on the ground, and shot him in the head, killing him.

The man fled the emergency room and was found hiding in a car in the hospital parking garage about an hour later. He was taken into custody and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was found guilty on November 17, 2006 and sentenced to death.

Gregg was born in Bristol and grew up in Levittown. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School (Harry S. Truman High School), Bucks County Community College, Ferris State University and Middlesex Fire Academy.

Gregg worked as a contractor for 15 years and owned his own business in the area. He then pursued his dream of becoming a police officer and graduated from Temple University Police Academy in 2002.

Gregg was hired as a part-time officer at Newtown Borough in 2003. He was later hired as a full-time officer in October 2004.

“Brian truly loved his community and he was proud to serve the city of Newtown,” his obituary said. “He never hesitated to answer the call to duty or to help others.”

In April 2014, a section of the Newtown Bypass between South State Street and Durham Road was renamed the Officer Gregg Memorial Bypass. The district also dedicated a park on North Congress Street in his honor.