After 14 years of dedicated service to the borough of Minersville, Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs will retire this Friday, marking the end of a distinguished career in law enforcement.
Chief Combs, who resides in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has been a prominent figure in the community since he was hired as the Minersville Police Chief in 2010.
Before his tenure in Minersville, Chief Combs had a varied and impressive career. After serving in the Navy, he began working at Bethlehem Steel, while attending night college classes in Allentown. An advertisement for the Allentown Police Department piqued his interest in law enforcement. "I took the test and figured, 'What do I got to lose?'" Combs said.
In 1977, Combs joined the Allentown Police Department, where he rose through the ranks, serving as a Corporal, Sergeant, and eventually leading the vice narcotics/administration division. After retiring from the Allentown Police Department in 2002, he became a history teacher at Northwestern Lehigh but returned to law enforcement in 2010 when he accepted the position in Minersville.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Chief Combs cited health concerns and advice from his doctors. "I'm still becoming accustomed to this. I've been a police officer my whole life and now I'm not going to be doing it anymore. Most people go through their whole career and can't wait for their retirement date; I never felt that way. I've always loved the job," he said.
Chief Combs is looking forward to dedicating more time to his church, the Christian Congregation Church in Mertztown, where he serves as a pastor. His dual roles as a pastor and police officer have provided him with unique perspectives on service and community. "Someone asked me once how I'm a Pastor and a Police Officer, that's two ends of the spectrum. I told that person, no it's not. When you're in trouble you call one or the other. As a police officer, you think of the crimes we've solved but there is something more important. The good things you've done for a person have a direct impact on someone's life."
Throughout his career, Chief Combs has emphasized the importance of building trust within the community. He considers his greatest success in Minersville to be establishing a strong relationship with the citizens. "Gaining the trust of our community. People know they could come down to the Minersville Police Department for anything. There is a trust between us. If people don't respect or trust their police department, that's a major issue," he said.
Chief Combs offered advice to those considering a career in law enforcement: "It's the most rewarding career you can have but you get out of it what you put into it. If you come into this looking at it as a job, you are going to hate it. If you come into it as a calling, you'll get a lot out of it. We're in this to help people."
Sgt. Jeffrey Bowers will be taking over as Chief of Police after being sworn in on July 2nd. Bowers expressed deep respect for Chief Combs, describing him as a father figure to all his officers. "Working for Chief Combs was an honor. He loved decorating the police station at Christmas time because the police officers spent more time at the station than at home during the holidays. He was also a hands-on chief, often found working right alongside us on the scene," Bowers recalled.
As Chief Combs prepares to step down, he expressed his gratitude to the community and local leaders for their support over the years. "Everyone worked together to move the borough forward," he said.
The officers of the Minersville Police Department will undoubtedly miss Chief Combs' leadership and dedication, but they are optimistic about the future under the guidance of incoming Chief Jeffrey Bowers
Before his tenure in Minersville, Chief Combs had a varied and impressive career. After serving in the Navy, he began working at Bethlehem Steel, while attending night college classes in Allentown. An advertisement for the Allentown Police Department piqued his interest in law enforcement. "I took the test and figured, 'What do I got to lose?'" Combs said.
In 1977, Combs joined the Allentown Police Department, where he rose through the ranks, serving as a Corporal, Sergeant, and eventually leading the vice narcotics/administration division. After retiring from the Allentown Police Department in 2002, he became a history teacher at Northwestern Lehigh but returned to law enforcement in 2010 when he accepted the position in Minersville.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Chief Combs cited health concerns and advice from his doctors. "I'm still becoming accustomed to this. I've been a police officer my whole life and now I'm not going to be doing it anymore. Most people go through their whole career and can't wait for their retirement date; I never felt that way. I've always loved the job," he said.
Chief Combs is looking forward to dedicating more time to his church, the Christian Congregation Church in Mertztown, where he serves as a pastor. His dual roles as a pastor and police officer have provided him with unique perspectives on service and community. "Someone asked me once how I'm a Pastor and a Police Officer, that's two ends of the spectrum. I told that person, no it's not. When you're in trouble you call one or the other. As a police officer, you think of the crimes we've solved but there is something more important. The good things you've done for a person have a direct impact on someone's life."
Throughout his career, Chief Combs has emphasized the importance of building trust within the community. He considers his greatest success in Minersville to be establishing a strong relationship with the citizens. "Gaining the trust of our community. People know they could come down to the Minersville Police Department for anything. There is a trust between us. If people don't respect or trust their police department, that's a major issue," he said.
Chief Combs offered advice to those considering a career in law enforcement: "It's the most rewarding career you can have but you get out of it what you put into it. If you come into this looking at it as a job, you are going to hate it. If you come into it as a calling, you'll get a lot out of it. We're in this to help people."
Sgt. Jeffrey Bowers will be taking over as Chief of Police after being sworn in on July 2nd. Bowers expressed deep respect for Chief Combs, describing him as a father figure to all his officers. "Working for Chief Combs was an honor. He loved decorating the police station at Christmas time because the police officers spent more time at the station than at home during the holidays. He was also a hands-on chief, often found working right alongside us on the scene," Bowers recalled.
As Chief Combs prepares to step down, he expressed his gratitude to the community and local leaders for their support over the years. "Everyone worked together to move the borough forward," he said.
The officers of the Minersville Police Department will undoubtedly miss Chief Combs' leadership and dedication, but they are optimistic about the future under the guidance of incoming Chief Jeffrey Bowers
Bowers is scheduled to be sworn in as Chief on July 2nd.