“We are embarking on a new trend to make connections with our communities,” Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said.

Holihan spoke at the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ March 26 meeting.

Holihan gave an overview of the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office, of which he has been in charge since January 2024.

“We have a county-wide homicide task force,” Holihan said. “They work with every municipality. We don’t take over the cases. We work side by side.”

Holihan listed the number of homicides annually in Lehigh County, which, he said, indicates a reduction in the most recent years: 2015: 15; 2016: 17; 2017: 24; 2018: 20; 2019: 17; 2020: 18; 2021: 21; 2022: 19; 2023: 26; 2024: 11 and 2025: 7.

“We also have a drug task force, auto theft task force and insurance fraud task force,” Holihan said.

The district attorney’s office has a computer crimes task force, elder abuse task force and safe schools task force.

Concerning elder abuse, Holihan said, “Now it’s overwhelmingly financial. People have lost millions in scams.

“We have a digital forensics lab on the campus of DeSales University,” Holihan said.

Holihan was elected district attorney in November 2023, succeeding Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin, who was in office for 25 years to become the longest-serving district attorney in Lehigh County history.

Holihan became Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney in January 2023; was a Deputy Lehigh County Solicitor, 1997-1999 and Lehigh County Assistant District Attorney, 1992-1997.

According to the website for Lehigh County, “The district attorney is charged with pursuing justice, determining when to file criminal charges and fairly prosecuting those charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes.

“The office works closely with police departments, including state and federal law enforcement officials, on investigations and crime-fighting and public safety initiatives.”

From 1999-2004, Holihan practiced in the firm of Huber and Waldron. From 2007-2019, he was a part-time instructor at the Allentown Police Academy, providing classroom instruction for police cadets from the region.

Holihan practiced law as a sole practitioner at his firm, the Law Office of Gavin P. Holihan, from 2004-2022. He tried many cases, including six capital homicide trials in four counties. He joined the Lehigh County’s Office of the Public Defender in 2015 and served as trial attorney.

Holihan is a 1988 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and a 1991 graduate of Fordham University School of Law.

The Salisbury Township meeting schedule in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., includes: 7 p.m. April 8, zoning hearing board, canceled; 7 p.m. April 9, board of commissioners; 7 p.m. April 15, environmental advisory council and 7 p.m. April 22, planning commission.

The volunteer recognition dinner will be held April 23.

The board of commissioners’ April 23 meeting is canceled.