Chief Friel is a twenty-nine (29) year employee of Warrington Township.  In 1996 he began his employment with the Township, having served as Fire Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Deputy Fire Marshal, and Acting Fire Marshal before becoming a Township Police Officer in 2000.  Chief Friel became a patrol supervisor (OIC) and Field Training Officer during his second year with the department.  In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant, and then became Sergeant of Detective’s in 2010, Lieutenant in 2013 and Deputy Chief in 2015.  

Throughout his career, Chief Friel received specialized training in leadership, command, supervision, field training, SWAT, counter terrorism, criminal investigations, and narcotics.   He served 10 years as a tactical operator/team leader on the Bucks County South Central Emergency Response Team which is a regional SWAT team that covers Warrington Township.  Chief Friel was also one of the organizers and original founding members of the Bucks County SWAT HAZMAT team that was formed in 2005.  He traveled around the country with his teammates for extensive specialized training through Homeland Security in Weapons of Mass Destruction and Counter Terrorism as part of their assignment with this team.

Chief Friel is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Command Institute (2008) and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (2010).  In the spring of 2015, Chief Friel was selected to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia which is a top-level professional development course for US and International law enforcement leaders.  He graduated from the 260th Session in June of 2015.  Less than 1% of law enforcement officials ever get the opportunity to attend this academy.

In 2022, Chief Friel served as President of the Delaware Valley Association of Professional Police Officials (DVAPPO).  In 2023, Chief Friel was elected and served two years as President of the Police Chiefs Association of Bucks County (PCABC).  He is now Chairperson of the Executive Board.  In 2024, Chief Friel was elected to the Executive Board of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PCASP) as a delegate representing Bucks County.

In 2024, Chief Daniel J. Friel completed his studies with the FBI – Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI -LEEDA). The Chief earned the FBI – Trilogy award having completed all three phases of training.  Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI), Command Leadership institute (CLI), and Executive Leadership Institute (ELI). 

Preparing for the future is an ongoing process. Growth in the Township continues at a rapid pace and the police department has addressed its challenges head-on.  Chief Friel is credited with taking the department to next level, most notably, its relationship with the community.  With support from the Township, he successfully completed the largest capital building project in Township history.  In 2020, the department moved into a new 18,500 square foot state of the art police facility. 

One of the key factors in another achievement of his for obtaining their state certification in 2021 Warrington Police are an established Accredited Law Enforcement Agency having recently achieved their 1^st reaccreditation certification in early 2024. To encourage professionalism through training under his leadership, three quarters of the police department has obtained their personal police accreditation through Continuing Education Units from Bucks County Community College and the Police Chiefs Association of Bucks County certification process.

Developing and maintaining a good professional reputation is a long-term goal and a top priority under his administration. 

Chief Friel is only the 4th Chief of Police in Warrington Township history.