Middlesex Township hires first police chief in 20 years
MIDDLESEX TWP — Starting next month, the Middlesex Township Police Department will be led by its first chief in two decades.
After two months of searching, supervisors on Wednesday, July 16, approved the hiring of Justin Bouch as the new chief of police.
“He had all the qualifications,” said township manager Jeffrey Winkle. “He had all the attributes we are looking for in a police chief.”
Bouch’s approval came during the board’s monthly meeting, which Bouch did not attend in person. His employment will start Aug. 3.
Prior to joining Middlesex Township, Bouch served as a sergeant in the Harrison Township Police Department, and he also has prior experience as an corporal in the Frazer Township Police Department, both in Allegheny County.
The department previously was led by an officer-in-charge, Bryan Costanzo, who stepped down from that role earlier this month. The position of police chief was eliminated in May 2005, with Ed Brooks the last person to hold the position.
The hiring of Bouch increased Middlesex Township’s police force to six total officers — five full-time and one part-time. This still is down from the beginning of 2025, when the force consisted of seven full-time officers.
Since the start of the year, three full-time officers have resigned from the police department, and one part-time officer resigned shortly after being hired.
According to Winkle, filling the shoes of the resigned officers will be one of Bouch’s main priorities as the new police chief, along with ensuring no others resign.
“He has many priorities, but one of his first priorities will be recruitment and retention,” Winkle said. “Recruitment of new officers and retention of existing officers.”
Winkle added that Bouch will be out on patrol just like the other officers on the force.
