During a meeting on Tuesday evening, the Minersville Borough Council officially promoted Sgt. Jeffrey Bowers to the position of Chief of Police, succeeding Chief Michael Combs, who retired after serving since 2010.
The meeting saw the acceptance of Chief Combs' resignation, marking the end of a era for the Minersville Police Department. Mayor Sean Palmer administered the oath of office to Chief Bowers, who was accompanied by his wife and daughters during the ceremony.
Chief Bowers, a 1994 graduate of Pottsville High School and a 1999 graduate of Penn State Main Campus, has been a dedicated officer for the borough of Minersville since 2001. He previously served as the Chief of Police for the Cass-Foster Township Police Department from 2008 to 2010 and rose through the ranks of the Minersville Police Department, being promoted to Sergeant in 2023.
Reflecting on his motivation to become an officer, Bowers shared, "It sounds corny, but I just like to help and make the place we live in a better place, especially for our kids."
As he steps into his new role, Chief Bowers acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly the statewide shortage of part-time police officers. "The problem is finding part-time police officers. There is a shortage across the state and we see it here too. The pool of applicants is so small, we are fighting for the same guys," he noted.
Two of Bowers other roles models also attended the ceremony. They were Kutztown University Chief of Police David Drezek and New York City Police Lieutenant Steve Jerome.
Chief Bowers plans to continue the legacy built by Chief Combs, with a strong focus on combating the drug problem and maintaining the excellent relationship the police department has with the community. He expressed his admiration for Combs, saying, "Combs was a role model to me. I watched him and how he did things. Combs was great at earning respect. I have a great borough council that is very supportive of us, and they go the extra mile for whatever we need."
Discussing his motivation, Bowers emphasized, "The drug problem is part of what motivates me. I see what these drugs are doing to younger kids and the lives that are lost because of it. That's my driving force behind this."
Looking ahead, Chief Bowers is committed to upholding and enhancing the department's standards. "My long-term goal here is to keep the department that Chief Combs built and continue to improve what he built. I want to keep this as a safe place where people can come for help."
The Minersville community looks forward to the continued excellence and leadership under Chief Bowers, building on the strong foundation laid by Chief Combs.
Chief Bowers plans to continue the legacy built by Chief Combs, with a strong focus on combating the drug problem and maintaining the excellent relationship the police department has with the community. He expressed his admiration for Combs, saying, "Combs was a role model to me. I watched him and how he did things. Combs was great at earning respect. I have a great borough council that is very supportive of us, and they go the extra mile for whatever we need."
Discussing his motivation, Bowers emphasized, "The drug problem is part of what motivates me. I see what these drugs are doing to younger kids and the lives that are lost because of it. That's my driving force behind this."
Looking ahead, Chief Bowers is committed to upholding and enhancing the department's standards. "My long-term goal here is to keep the department that Chief Combs built and continue to improve what he built. I want to keep this as a safe place where people can come for help."
The Minersville community looks forward to the continued excellence and leadership under Chief Bowers, building on the strong foundation laid by Chief Combs.
