Mayor-Elect Donchez Picks New Police Chief

Mayor-elect Bob Donchez named veteran officer Det. Lt. Mark A. Diluzio to be Bethlehem’s next chief of police during a Monday news conference, during which he named three other department heads.

Diluzio, who has been in charge of investigations for Bethlehem police for the past three years, has been with the department since 1989 when he joined as a patrol officer.

Donchez noted that he has had a “long and distinguished career,” solving numerous crimes, including homicides and drug investigations.

He replaces Craig Finnerty, who only became chief in August when Jason Schiffer retired.

Donchez also named David L. Brong the city’s new business administrator, Edward J. Boscola as the new director of water and sewer resources and announced that he would retain Mike Alkhal as the city’s director of public works.

Brong, who has been in charge of the city’s Water and Sewer Resources Department since 2004, will replace Dennis Reichard as the head of city finance.

Brong served two years at the U.S. Naval Academy in resources management and holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University.

“Mr. Brong has familiarized himself with the entire operations of the city government,” Donchez said. “His experience here as a department head combined with his education and private sector experience including having served as vice president and director of operations for private corporations has convinced me that he has the necessary credentials to serve as the head of the Department of Administration."

Boscola, who is currently the regional manager for Brinjac Engineering Inc., will assume Brong’s old responsibilities.

Boscola was the director of public works for Northampton County from 1999 until 2006, overseeing an annual operating budget of $7 million.

“In that job he managed all large capital projects and completed the Northampton County Courthouse expansion, prison expansion, Domestic Relations building, Emergency 911 Center and Juvenile Justice Center,” Donchez said.

Alkhal has been in charge of the city’s Public Works Department since 1998. He was selected by then-Mayor Don Cunningham after a nationwide search for a civil engineer to fill the position.

"During my years on council, I have had contact with Mr. Alkhal and found him always to be responsive and attentive to his duties,” Donchez said. I know talent when I see it and, therefore, I am asking Mr. Alkhal to stay on and he has agreed to accept my offer.”

Last week, Donchez announced that he had selected Alicia Miller Karner to be his director of community and economic development and William P. Leeson to be the city solicitor.

He said he may make more announcements next week.