City of Lancaster Announces Interim Chief of Police

Mayor Danene Sorace will bring the appointment of an Interim Chief of Police to City Council this evening, the City of Lancaster announced today.

John T. Bey will be presented to the council this evening for its consent. Bey, who retired this month as Superintendent of the 193rd Special Operations Comptroller Flight, 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in Middletown, would join the Bureau of Police on Dec. 7.

“As mayor I have committed to build a stronger and more equitable Lancaster, block by block. The foundation of this requires public safety. And public safety is built on the trust between the community and the police. We have work to do, and we need a steady hand to lead our bureau and build the bonds of trust within our community. I believe John Bey can help us move forward,” said Sorace.

Following a thorough background investigation, Bey was introduced to City Council last week and the Community Police Working Group last night, and will participate in City Council’s public meeting this evening.

Bey has an extensive background in law enforcement, including expertise in communications, community policing, effective recruitment of minorities and women, managing budgets and resource allocation, and education and training. Bey previously served as the Chief of Police for the Middletown Borough Police Department from Oct. 2014 through May 2017.

Prior to that, he spent 25 years with the Pennsylvania State Police. During his time with PSP, Bey served in a variety of supervisory roles including patrol unit supervisor, patrol section commander, and criminal investigation section commander. Additionally, he served as a negotiator for the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and led the Heritage Affairs and Recruitment and Special Services offices. During his time in Heritage Affairs, he investigated hate crimes and bias crimes across the state and worked closely with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Bey has served in the military since 1986 with the Air National Guard where he holds the military rank of chief master sergeant.

Bey graduated from the FBI National Academy as well as the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and a holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in corporate communications from Elizabethtown College.

The City will soon begin a nationwide search for a permanent police chief.

“I am deeply committed to a public, transparent, national search for a permanent Chief of Police, and Chief Bey shares my commitment to that process, which he knows our community must do to succeed,” said Sorace. 

City Council will vote on Bey’s appointment at its regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. For information about viewing the meeting, visit www.cityoflancasterpa.com/city-council.