Crime & Safety

Mayor Selects New Deputy Police Chief

Todd Repsher, a 22-year veteran of the force, is picked to be Craig Finnerty's deputy chief.

Bethlehem police Capt. Todd Repsher was promoted to deputy chief of the department, moving up in rank as Craig Finnerty officially became the city’s police chief on Monday.

Repsher has been a member of the Bethlehem Police Departmemt for 22 years, starting out as a patrolman.

Repsher has served as vice investigator with the Special Operations Unit, patrol sergeant and lieutenant with the Third Platoon, lieutenant with the Criminal Investigations Division, captain of the Operations Division, and he served as a member of the Bethlehem Emergency Response Team, Mayor John Callahan said.

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Callahan announced that Finnerty was his pick to become chief when Jason Schiffer announced last month that he would step down after 20 years on the force. City Council formally approved that selection last week.

Finnerty had risen up the ranks of the patrol division and also served as a firearms instructor, training coordinator and was a key member of the professional standards division, Callahan said.

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“I am completely confident in [Finnerty and Repsher’s] ability to lead the Bethlehem Police Department today and into the future,” Callahan said.

The mayor also announced that Lt. Ashley Heiberger—an 18-year department veteran—is being promoted to administrative captain.

“He has served as a patrol platoon commander and was previously assigned to a staff lieutenant position, where he was responsible for the accreditation, grants and training functions,” Callahan said.  “Ashley has done an excellent job in the department initially achieving accreditation with CALEA and PLEAC,” the mayor continued. 

“He has been an integral part of both processes and we are grateful for his leadership. He is an executive board member of the Pennsylvania Police Accreditation Coalition, and has conducted training for accreditation managers and assessors in several states.”


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