Petitions grow on both sides of Quakertown police chief controversy after Feb. 20 protest
Nearly three weeks after a protest involving Quakertown Community High School students escalated into a confrontation with police, community members continue organizing online campaigns both supporting and opposing Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree, who is out on workers’ compensation leave.
A petition launched March 4 by the group Bucks Backs Blue calling for public support of McElree has gathered more than 5,000 signatures on Change.org as of this week.
The petition praises McElree’s decades of service in Quakertown and argues he has been a visible, community-oriented leader who regularly engages with residents at local events, protests and outreach programs.
Supporters of the chief say the Feb. 20 incident occurred after students walked off campus during a protest over federal immigration enforcement actions and the situation escalated when police responded to reports of vandalism.
According to the petition, McElree attempted to detain a student who refused to comply, leading to a struggle that involved several teenagers. Some students have since been charged with aggravated assault after video showed officers, including McElree, being struck during the confrontation. The chief reportedly suffered facial and rib injuries during the incident.
Meanwhile, criticism of McElree has also continued online. A separate petition calling for the chief’s resignation has drawn more than 13,000 signatures, reflecting ongoing division in the community following the protest and the police response.
Fundraising efforts connected to the controversy have also drawn significant attention. A GoFundMe campaign supporting families involved in the protest raised about $139,500 from more than 3,000 donors before organizers announced on March 5 that the fundraiser had been paused and funds transferred.
The nonprofit Welcome Project PA, which organized the effort, said it is now coordinating with affected families and plans to distribute the donations while providing a financial report in the future.
The Feb. 20 incident remains under investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, which previously announced an independent review of the police response and asked the public to submit video or other evidence related to the confrontation.
The outcome of that investigation, along with potential court proceedings for students charged in the incident, is expected to determine the next chapter in a controversy that has sparked intense debate both locally and online.
Tony Di Domizio is the managing editor of CentralBucksNow. Email him at [email protected].
