by Dan Doyle | September 24, 2025
BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County grand jury says two Upper Southampton Township employees orchestrated a scheme to defraud taxpayers by lying about the condition of decommissioned police vehicles, rigging auctions, and pocketing thousands of dollars in profits.
The presentment points to Police Officer Derek Gale, who oversaw the township’s police fleet, and Assistant Public Works Director Brandon Valentino as the architects of a scheme that spanned more than a year.
According to investigators, the pair deliberately posted misleading listings on Municibid, the online auction platform used by municipalities. Vehicles that were in running condition were advertised as inoperable or needing major repairs. Upgraded aluminum rims were stripped off and replaced with old steel ones before photos were uploaded, creating the illusion of worn-out fleet cars nobody else would want.
One example: a 2014 Ford Explorer, once used by the township’s police chief, was listed as having a bad engine, a faulty steering column, and emissions issues. In reality, detectives later determined the SUV was mechanically sound, with a working engine, functional steering, and no emissions failures. Valentino purchased the vehicle for just $1,005. Months later, that same broken Explorer passed Pennsylvania inspection without any costly repairs and was resold for $8,500 to a family member of a retired police lieutenant.
Another case involved a 2013 Ford Explorer that Gale arranged to be listed as non-running. The vehicle was photographed with plain black steel rims instead of its original aluminum set. Despite the inoperable description, Gale drove the SUV off township property the day of the sale after buying it for $2,105. Surveillance footage later showed him at Tri-County Collision in Southampton, putting the aluminum rims back on the Explorer.
Investigators noted that both SUVs had intact engines, functional steering systems, working brakes, and no serious mechanical defects at the time of sale. Investigators said the false descriptions were intentional, designed to scare off legitimate bidders and allow Gale and Valentino to purchase the cars for next to nothing.
When summoned before the grand jury panel, Gale refused to answer questions, repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment. Valentino admitted that he doctored auction listings at Gale’s direction but claimed he did not recognize the behavior as illegal at the time.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo An Upper Southampton Twp. patrol vehicle is parked at the station
The grand jury recommended criminal charges, including bid rigging, theft by deception, unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy.
Note: Criminal charges, and any reporting thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Read the Criminal Complaint and Grand Jury Presentment here: