Five new Allentown police officers were sworn-in this morning during a ceremony in City Council Chambers where the department also awarded badges to newly certified officers and recognized the recent promotions of six officers.

 

Mayor Ray O’Connell and Police Chief Tony Alsleben presided as officers Joseph Pfeifer, Carman Wega, Brandon Evans, Dondre Smith and Edward Elam took the oath of office and officers Wega, Robert Rudolph, Alexander Kiskeravage and Christian Robles received their department badges.

 

“I am very proud of the Allentown Police Department and its leadership,” said Mayor O’Connell.  “In any para-military organization leadership has to guide and set the tone for those in the lower ranks.  Chief Alsleben and his team are tremendous leaders and the men and women on the street are following their example. I want to welcome the new officers and formally congratulate the six officers on their promotion.”

 

Chief Alsleben said, “I would like to welcome our new officers and congratulate our officers who received their badges today. They are joining an elite police department with a long tradition of excellence. I would like to thank our recruitment team members who work meticulously to bring in the most qualified and diverse candidates, these officers are a prime example of their efforts. We are working hard toward our goal of reaching our full complement of officers by the end of 2019.” 

 

Officer Pfeifer earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Criminal Justice from Northampton Community College and a diploma on Firefighting/EMS from the Career Institute of Technology.

 

Officer Wega attended Lackawanna College and is PA Act 120 certified through Lackawanna College Police Academy.  He is assigned to the 1^st platoon.

 

Officer Evans holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Criminal Justice from Lehigh Carbon Community College and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

 

Officer Smith attended LaGuardia Community College and Touro College.

 

Officer Elam holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from Caldwell University and was trained at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Police Academy.

 

Officers Pfeifer, Evans, Smith and Elam are currently attending Allentown Police Academy to become Act 120 certified.

 

Officer Rudolph holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science, Major in English from Tiffin University.  He was hired in September 2017.   

 

Officer Kiskeravage is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School and attended Lehigh Carbon Community College.  He was hired in October 2017.  

 

Officer Robles attended the Manhattan Institute and the New York College of Technology.  He was hired in February 2018.

 

Officers Rudolph, Kiskeravage and Robles received their Act 120 certification from the Allentown Police Academy in September 2018.  They are currently in the department’s Field Training Program.

 

The promotions of Captain Scott McCullough, Lieutenant Michael Becker, and sergeants Robert Flores, Joshua Brubaker, Scott Snyder and Christopher Weiss were also formally announced.  Each received their new badge signifying their rank.

 

Captain McCullough holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and is certified in Digital Forensics both from DeSales University.  Captain McCulloch was the first Allentown police officer to obtain the EnCE Computer Forensic Certification through Guidance Software and the CelleBrite Cell Phone Forensic Certification.  Captain McCulloch was hired in February 1997 and worked various details and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in June 2007 and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division.   During his tenure in investigations he was selected to various taskforces, including the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the PA Electronic Crime Task Force which is a division of the US Secret Service, the PA State Police Computer Crime Task Force and the High Tech Crime Investigators Association.  McCullough began serving as Administrative Captain in December 2018.

 

Lieutenant Becker joined the department in August 2006 and was assigned to patrol until he was transferred to the Police Academy in September 2012.  While assigned to the Academy, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in November 2013 and assigned the duties of assistant director of training.  He was promoted to lieutenant last September and is currently assigned to the 4^th Platoon. 

Lieutenant Becker has received three Commendations:  1 for Valor, 1 for Bravery and 1 for Achievement.  Lieutenant Becker holds an Associate in Arts, Criminal Justice from Lehigh Carbon Community College.  He is a U.S. Army National Guard veteran.

 

Sergeant Flores was hired in August 2006 and was assigned to various units within the department including patrol and vice.  He was promoted to his current rank of sergeant in March 2018 and assigned to the 1^st Platoon.  He has since been re-assigned to the 4^th Platoon. Sergeant Flores has received 8 Commendations:  3 for Bravery and 5 for Merit.  Sergeant Flores attended East Stroudsburg University, Northampton Community College and Mount Hood Community College.

 

Sergeant Brubaker was hired in March 2007 and was assigned to various units primarily patrol and criminal investigations where he focused on computer crimes.  While assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, he was promoted to his current rank of sergeant in September 2018 and assigned to the 1^st Platoon.  Sergeant Brubaker has received 3 Commendations:  1 for Achievement, and 2 for Merit. He attended Lancaster Bible College and Reading Community College.

 

Sergeant Snyder was hired in May 2012 and after working as part of the 2^nd Platoon and later the 4^th Platoon was promoted to his current rank of sergeant in December 2018 and is currently assigned to the 2^nd Platoon. Sergeant Snyder has received 5 Commendations:  1 for Bravery, 1 for Heroism, 1 for Achievement, and 2 for Merit.  He is a graduate of William Allen High School and attended Lehigh County Community College.

 

Sergeant Weiss was hired in August 2006 and was assigned to the 2^nd Platoon.  He was assigned to patrol before being transferred to the Allentown Police Academy in November 2013.  He was promoted to his current rank in December 2018 and is assigned to the 1^st Platoon.  Sergeant Weiss has received a Commendation for Heroism.  He is a U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran and a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School.

 

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