Chief of Police Resigns, Acting Chief Appointed

Chief John T. Bey has resigned as Chief of Police of the City of Lancaster after 18 months of rebuilding trust between the community and police. Mayor Danene Sorace has appointed Captain Richard Mendez as Acting Chief, with the intention of bringing a recommendation to City Council for permanent appointment to lead Lancaster’s largest police department. 

“I have determined that after 25 years of service to the Pennsylvania State Police plus my subsequent service with the US Air Force Reserves, Pennsylvania National Guard, and the City of Lancaster, I am ready to take a step back and celebrate these accomplishments,” said Bey. 

Chief Bey has built external relationships and expanded community engagement efforts. He has led numerous change efforts in line with 21st century policing during his tenure, including reorganizing community engagement efforts, maintaining the Community Police Working Group, reinstituting bike patrols, and re-opening the Cadet program and the police recruitment process with a goal of increasing the number of city residents, persons of color and women. Chief Bey hired the Bureau’s first civilian Communications Manager to widely share the proactive programs and policies of the Bureau.  

In addition, Chief Bey has led efforts to establish a Human Resources office at the bureau and update the Civil Service Rules regarding hiring and promotion. He amended the oral interview portion of the application process to include unconscious bias training for the reviewers for the first time in the Bureau’s history. Chief Bey has initiated systemic change efforts that will stand the test of time, including a policy manual consistent with 21st century policing guidelines, an Internal Affairs evaluation and gap analysis; and has started the arduous, years-long accreditation process with the PA Chiefs of Police. 

Captain Mendez is a lifelong resident of Lancaster City, a JP McCaskey graduate and 22-year veteran of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. 

Mendez has served as a patrol officer, a member of the K-9 unit, an officer assigned to the Selective Enforcement Unit, a member of the Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team, a platoon leader, and most recently Captain of Patrol, the largest division of the bureau. 

“I am grateful for Chief Bey’s service to Lancaster during a time of change and I am thrilled that Captain Mendez has agreed to take the significant work we have started into the next chapter. He has deep relationships both inside and outside of the bureau and is ready to lead,” said Mayor Sorace.