BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — The record of service is impressive for any police officer.
But Bensalem Township Police Officer Christian Martinka racked up some impressive statistics in 2024: He conducted 416 traffic stops, made 74 criminal arrests, and documented 831 incident reports.
The results of those efforts have earned Martinka the 2024 Bensalem Township Police Officer of the Year award.
Bensalem Police, Mayor DiGirolamo, and the Bensalem Council recognized Martinka with a presentation at Monday night’s council meeting.
“He has maintained an exceptional level of performance in all his duties,” officials said. “Officer Martinka always leads by example and has become an informal leader among his peers. This is why he was selected as a field training officer.”
In addition to his patrol duties, Martinka also contributes to the Police Athletic League (PAL) throughout the year, serving as a coach to the youth in our community, and recently won the Junior Boys’ basketball championship as a coach.
He also received seven official commendations last year.
They included “officer of the quarter,” a unit citation, and five separate awards for the recovery of illegally possessed guns on traffic stops.
“There is no way to measure how many violent gun crimes were prevented by his actions,” officials said.
Martinka spent nearly four years with the Philadelphia Police Department, assigned to the 15th District, and has been with the Bensalem Township Police Department for two years.
He comes from a family of police officers, including his father, Thomas Sr., who retired from the Philadelphia Police Department after 35 years of service, and his older brother, Thomas Jr., who has been with the Bensalem Township Police Department since September 2019.
Mayor DiGirolamo, Director McVey, Township Council, and all members of the Bensalem Township Police Department congratulated Martinka for achieving the prestigious honor and wish him a long, safe, and fulfilling career here in Bensalem.
(Bensalem Township Police Department)