COUDERSPORT — Bryan Phelps stepped away from almost three decades of policing to step into the role of magisterial district judge in Coudersport.
“The election was humbling,” Phelps said. “I’m so honored.”
As of Jan. 1, Phelps filled the seat vacated by interim judge James Hawkins and before that by retired, long-serving judge Annette Easton. Phelps will continue his service as chief of the Coudersport Fire Department, where he has served for 38 years.
Phelps’ passions are training, discipline and community, particularly when it comes to policing.
He signed on as a Coudersport police officer in 1996 and served as chief of the Sweden Valley police department from 1999-2023; their jurisdiction also included Roulette and Ulysses boroughs.
“I’ve been fortunate to have good examples and teachers,” he said. “I went through the Mansfield University police academy with another guy from Coudersport, which the police department paid for. The leadership at MU, especially John Toner, was amazing.”
Phelps is a lifelong Coudersport resident who grew up on an area dairy farm. He notes that “85% of what we do is visibility” and that police build trust in a small community on a very individual basis.
“People flag us down, they see us downtown shopping,” he said. “I’ve had people come to my house when they see the police car in the driveway and ask me to resolve disputes. My wife hated this, but the police landline rolled over to my cell phone and I would take calls in the middle of the night.
“Policing really is the greatest job in the world. It doesn’t look good in the media, but we have to be in control. We’re called to be there.”
The biggest societal changes Phelps has seen over the past 27 years are a decline in volunteerism, an increase in mental health problems and a lack of discipline, particularly within the family.
“I joined the Coudersport fire department as a junior firefighter at 16,” he said. “We don’t see that much anymore — the fire department, churches, EMS, things like Rotary — they are hurting for volunteers. It seems like everyone is just too busy.
“There is a lack of discipline today,” he continued. “You have to be the parent, not your kid’s friend. It used to be that teachers could discipline students, but now you have teachers getting sued for yelling.”
Phelps noted that policing technology and tech in general has changed over the decades as well.
“There’s up and downs to it,” he said, gesturing at his computer. “On the one hand, you need a part, you point your camera at the computer, snap a picture and order it. On the other hand, the scams that are happening are terrible, especially with older people.”
The Sweden Valley township supervisors voted in December to disband the police department. Pennsylvania State Police will respond to local calls.
Phelps noted that he and the former two part-time police officers will not be responding to personal calls in the future.
“Please don’t use our cell phone numbers,” he said. “Call 911 for state police.”
Going forward, Phelps’ duties will consist mainly of hearing cases; he says he can make the tough decisions.
“We’re the people’s court,” he said. “The community has a right to be heard.”
