After nearly four months, the “Quakertown 5”, their supporters, and community members still await answers from an investigation Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan’s office promised was forthcoming.
It’s now been exactly 111 days since Quakertown Chief of Police Scott McElree (who also serves as borough manager) found himself on the ground applying what most people recognize as a chokehold to a high school student protesting ICE brutality against immigrants.
The 72-year-old cop who was wearing plainclothes at the time jumped into the fray on Feb. 20 to assist his officers who decided to confront a group of student protesters. McElree also allegedly punched another girl and grabbed a boy in the police attack on the kids. He returned to work last month after taking worker’s comp leave for injuries sustained while tackling the high school girl to the ground with students trying to free her from his grip.
McElree’s participation in the event, his continuing employment with the borough and the consequences for the five high school students who were arrested continues to divide the Upper Bucks community.
“It is not surprising that the Quakertown borough has reinstated Scott McElree back in his dual role as chief of police and borough manager … What is surprising is that our district attorney, Joe Khan, has waited so long to make a determination on potential charges against Scott,” said Laura Foster, advocate and co-founder of Upper Bucks United in an email request for comment.
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Quakertown Police Mimic Ice Brutality
Manuel Gamiz, Jr., director of communications for the Bucks County District Attorney’s office, declined to provide comment in an email request as the investigation remains ongoing.
One dispute it might resolve is whether McElree did in fact place the child in a chokehold.
“This was not a chokehold. The chief has never applied a chokehold in his career and has never been trained on how to apply a chokehold. Furthermore, QPD does not use chokeholds as a law enforcement technique,” Quakertown council’s public statement said. QPD is the Quakertown Police Department.
Four days after the event advocates and community members demanded McElree be fired immediately ahead of a borough council meeting.
All of the Quakertown students arrested in February were minors held at Bucks County Youth Center, a temporary detention holding facility in Doylestown Township.
“The parents, families, community members and advocates for the “Quakertown 5” have been fighting for justice for these children since late February,” Foster said.
The “Quakertown 5”, as they have been called, were all Quakertown High School students who participated in what was meant to be a peaceful planned protest against ICE operations and tactics nationwide.
The protest, which was originally sanctioned by the school district, was cancelled just hours before it was scheduled to begin. Both district and Quakertown borough council cited “threats” to safety as a reason for attempting to scupper the protest. Alternative plans for students weren’t provided. Facing safety concerns to student protests, other school districts in Bucks County found alternate approaches to scheduled walkouts.
In February, Patch reported Pennsbury High School students were moved indoors to host their protest against ICE after “rumors were circulating on social media.” The day of the protest, all students were transported in shuttle buses to classes on the campus.
“There’s a strong and dedicated group of us that includes larger activist groups that will not rest until there’s justice.” – Laura Foster, Upper Bucks United
Representatives for students insist they did not know the “older stocky man who joined the fray” in plain clothes was the Quakertown police chief.
Quakertown council’s published report acknowledged at the time McElree was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked police vehicle. On May 8, Quakertown Borough Council released a public statement, which begins:
“Since the events of February 20th, Quakertown Borough has largely remained silent while the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office undertakes its investigation of this matter. That investigation, however, is taking more time than anticipated, and as such, the Borough believes it cannot wait any longer to provide its residents with a full and complete account of the events leading up to and including the melee in front of Sunday’s Deli & Restaurant on Friday, February 20, 2026.”
The statement goes on to acknowledge “the pain” the community has endured since the Feb. 20 altercation in the heart of the community and a few blocks from the business district and high school campus. It documents the chain of events and concludes with the signatures of all council members: President Donald Rosenberger, Vice President L. James Roberts and council members Michael Johnson, Jonathan Sell, Mae Wear and Dave Wilsey.
Efforts to reach Rosenberger for comment were unsuccessful; as were efforts to reach Lisa Hoffman, acting Quakertown Community School District superintendent.
The Police Chiefs’ Association of Bucks County undertook its own review of the incident from a policing perspective and provided the borough with guidance on how to better address these types of matters in the future. This review resulted in the previously released “After Action Review Report,” according to Quakertown council’s statement.
ABC News, WHYY and The Philadelphia Inquirer along with multiple other news outlets reported four members of the police association’s administrative review stated McElree and Quakertown Police Department officers actions were “justified and within police policy” when responding to the Feb. 20 event.
Quakertown’s statement said borough officials are working to define the best way to implement recommendations from the report.
“At this time, the Borough is not taking any disciplinary action against Chief McElree or any QPD Officers concerning their actions prior to, during, or after this incident on February 20, 2026,” council’s statement said.
On the other hand, Quakertown school district parents and community members have also condemned the handling of the protest and its aftermath.
While Foster decried the silence from Bucks County Commissioners and elected state and federal legislators over the violence and response to students from the February event, she said there were still those who demand equity for the community’s kids.
“Pockets of our community have risen up to fill the void. There’s a strong and dedicated group of us that includes larger activist groups that will not rest until there’s justice,” Foster said.
