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Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > December > 01 > Entry
Niehaus to replace Bruce
West Chester Trustees have selected Lt. Erik Niehaus to be their next chief of police.
The announcement came just before 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, when a message written by Safety Services Director James Dethridge was posted at department headquarters, which said Niehaus would fill the position effective Dec. 3.
Trustees must still make the appointment official, which they are expected to do at their meeting Tuesday.
Here’s the release from the township, which confirms the message posted earlier today.
Captains Joel Herzog, 40, and David Kelly, 44 and Niehaus were being considered to replace Bruce, whose contract extension was not renewed by trustees earlier this summer.
“He is a very intelligent young man,” said Trustee Catherine Stoker of Niehaus. “And he’s given a lot of thought to the position of police chief. Apparently, it’s been on his mind for a number of years.”
Stoker said she was most impressed with Niehaus’ approach to his new position, and its relationship with the broader township. She said he has already discussed operational changes with trustees, and has analyzed the department’s budget.
“He tackles every problem with intensity and thoughtfulness,” Stoker said.
Niehaus was promoted to lieutenant in May 2005. He is a graduate of Ball State University, where he attended on a baseball scholarship and received a bachelor’s degree in sports management while maintaining a presence on the college’s dean’s list in each of his four years. Niehaus went to law school at Northern Kentucky University and is an attorney, most recently requesting in 2005 to practice law part time.
“Since joining our department, I have always found him to be an honest, dedicated and extremely hardworking individual,” Bruce wrote in a letter in 2003 to the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
He is a 2006 graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College.
He joined the department in November 1994 as a police officer before working his way through the ranks as patrol shift commander and then SWAT commander. He currently serves as criminal investigation section commander.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Chief Search
Comments
By TB
December 1, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
All three candidates were qualified. I support the decision of Niehaus and believe he will lead the department in the right direction. Great Choice and Good Luck.
By SKnull
December 2, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
If he is anything like his father he will make a great Cheif. Congrats to him, his family and the rest of the P.D. I’m sure his father would be so proud.