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Jarrad Berkihiser was pushed out of his job as chief of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police last fall, the result of a falling out with the mayor over approaches to racial equity and progressive policing issues in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
In the months since, Berkihiser has kept largely quiet, saying little â publicly, at least â about what he thinks led to his unplanned departure, or the summer protests preceding it.
But he opened up in March, faulting Mayor Danene Sorace and the protesters generally for turning last Juneâs protests into a disorganized âgarbage dumpâ lacking realistic goals. Berkihiser said he believes some protesters wanted to physically take over the police station.
Lancasterâs interim police chief would like to shorten that title.
John T. Bey, who was in his sixth day on the job Monday, made it clear he wants the job full-time.
âIâm not here to keep the seat warm,â said Bey, 56.
While heâs still assessing the department, he said during a 45-minute interview that heâs not aware of any problems.
âI want people to know that this is a great police department. I want people to know from the top down â from the mayor all the way down to our community service folks â that this is a professionally run, integrity driven police department who cares about this community. And Iâm just part of that,â he said.