Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell today announced the promotion of four police officers and conducted swearing-in ceremonies in City Council Chambers for the department’s seven newest officers and cadets.
Captain Stephen Vangelo is being promoted to assistant chief – operations. Lieutenant John Hill and Lieutenant Charles Roca are being promoted to captain and Sergeant Eric Heicklen is being promoted to lieutenant.
O’Connell administered the oath of office to officers Samson Wega, Douglas Bauer, John Tamburello and Eric Blood and cadets Robert Rudolph, Alexander Kiskeravage and Christian Robles.
“We are acting quickly to fill leadership vacancies in the department brought about by recent retirements,” O’Connell said. “I have tremendous confidence in the team that Interim Chief Tony Alsleben has assembled to move the department forward. We are also moving to increase the ranks of the department to reach our authorized compliment of 228 officers.”
It was just two weeks ago that Alsleben was appointed interim chief to replace the retired Glen Dorney. Vangelo replaces retired Assistant Chief of Operations Bill Reinik.
Alsleben said, “I welcome and congratulate our new officers and cadets for completing a strenuous hiring process that selects only the most qualified candidates. I also congratulate the new members of our command staff. I look forward to working with you as we move the department forward in our goal of providing the best police services for our city.”
Assistant Chief Stephen Vangelo graduated from Phillipsburg High School in New Jersey and holds a Bachelor in Law and Justice from Trenton State College. Assistant Chief Vangelo was hired in July 1997. He was promoted to sergeant in December 2006 and to lieutenant in January 2014. Vangelo was promoted to captain in January 2016 and was in charge of PSA 2. Assistant Chief Vangelo has received seven commendations: three for bravery, one for heroism, one for achievement, and two for merit.
Captain John Hill graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School and attended Lehigh County Carbon Community College. Captain Hill was hired in July 1993 and was promoted to sergeant in October 2001. Captain Hill was promoted to lieutenant in April 2016. Hill was promoted to captain last month and is in charge of PSA 3. Captain Hill has received 11 commendations: five for bravery, one for heroism, three for achievement and two for merit.
Captain Charles Roca graduated from Dieruff High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. Captain Roca was hired in January 2002 and was promoted to sergeant in April 2012 and to lieutenant in April 2016. Roca was promoted to captain this month and is in charge of PSA 2. Captain Roca has received three commendations for merit.
Lieutenant Eric Heicklen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Lieutenant Heicklen was hired in February 1997 and was promoted to sergeant in April 2017. Heicklen was promoted to lieutenant last month and is assigned to the 1st Platoon. Lieutenant Heicklen has received three commendations: two for achievement and one for merit.
Officer Samson Wega is a U.S Army veteran and attended Harrisburg Area Community College. He is Act 120 Certified from Lackawanna College Police Academy. Officer Wega was hired in September 2016 and is assigned to the 2nd Platoon.
Officer Douglas Bauer graduated from Notre Dame Green Pond High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Mansfield University. He was hired in September 2016 and is Act 120 Certified from the Allentown Police Academy – June 2017. Officer Bauer is assigned to the 2nd Platoon.
Officer John Tamburello is a U.S Army veteran and attended Hudson County Community College. He is Act 120 Certified from the Allentown Police Department – 2013. He was hired in August 2017 and is assigned to the 3rd Platoon.
Cadet Robert Rudolph holds a Bachelor in Arts and Science, Major in English from Tiffin University. He was hired in September 2017 and is assigned to the Allentown Police Academy. Cadet Rudolph is also a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Cadet Alexander Kiskeravage is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School and attended Lehigh Carbon Community College. He was hired in October 2017 and is assigned to the Allentown Police Academy.
Cadet Christian Robles attended the Manhattan Institute and the New York College of Technology. He was hired in February 2018 and is assigned to the Allentown Police Academy.
Officer Eric Blood is a graduate of Pennridge High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology from Chestnut Hill College. He is Act 120 Certified from Montgomery County Police Academy – 2014. He was hired in February 2018 and is assigned to the 1st Platoon. Officer Blood is currently a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
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