Portion of Newtown Bypass named after fallen officer

A large portion of the Newtown Bypass on Tuesday was renamed in honor of Newtown Borough police officer Brian Gregg who was killed in the line of duty in 2005.

The stretch of road between Route 413 and Route 532 is now called "the Officer Gregg Memorial Bypass." In the coming weeks, signs will mark the newly designated roadway, Penndot officials said.

Gregg had given up a career as a carpenter to follow a lifelong dream to be an officer in the borough and was killed two days shy of his one-year anniversary on the force. Gregg and another officer, James Warunek, had arrested Robert Flor for driving drunk and punching his girlfriend, taking him to the emergency room for blood and urine samples. Flor snatched Warunek's gun at the hospital and fatally shot Gregg. Flor is now on death row.

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R., Bucks) attended the dedication and released the following statement: "For those lost in the line of duty — like Officer Gregg — we must recognize their commitment each day. The renaming of this highway will serve as a daily reminder for thousands of people of the important role our first responders play locally and nationally."