BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — Bensalem Township Council recognized two Bensalem police officers at its recent meeting Monday night for life-saving actions.
Police Officer Mark Wildsmith was honored as the 2025 Bensalem Township Police Department Officer of the Year.
Wildsmith’s work over the past year included handling a life-threatening critical incident, performing the Heimlich maneuver to save a man’s life, assisting a suicidal veteran as part of the Bucks County Veterans Response Team, and arresting a suspect during a traffic stop who was carrying a Glock handgun equipped with a switch that made it fully automatic.
The department also said Wildsmith helped develop its Jiu-Jitsu defensive tactics training program. According to the post, he previously served as a Philadelphia police officer and is a United States Army veteran.
Police Officer Kristopher Harley was separately recognized for actions during a call to a local hotel.
Harley was alerted that a child had drowned in the pool, then found the unresponsive child and began CPR. According to the department, the child regained consciousness and began breathing without assistance, and has since made a full recovery.
The police department said both survivors attended the council meeting and thanked the officers who saved their lives. The post described their presence as especially meaningful during the public recognition.
The department thanked Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and the Township Council for recognizing the officers during a public meeting. It also asked the community to congratulate Wildsmith and Harley for their service and dedication to protecting the community.