Erie Mayor-elect Daria Devlin plans to make Richard E. Lorah the city’s next chief of police.
Devlin made the announcement at a Dec. 10 news conference where she unveiled other police staffing appointments and formally introduced Lori Spicer as her chief of staff.
Lorah, 51, is a 27-year Erie Bureau of Police veteran who currently serves as a deputy chief overseeing the Criminal Investigation Division. An Erie native and graduate of Girard High School and West Virginia University, Lorah was sworn onto the Erie police force March 3, 1999. He has served as a field training officer, supervisor of the Saturation Unit, major crimes detective and patrol captain.
Current Chief Dan Spizarny is retiring in January after a 36-year career with the police bureau. Spizarny is retiring at the completion of Mayor Joe Schember’s term.
Richard E. Lorah, a 27-year member of the Erie Bureau of Police, has been named by Erie Mayor-elect Daria Devlin as the city’s new police chief.
Devlin: Lorah ‘ready for the work ahead’
Devlin said she chose to appoint Lorah to the police bureau’s top job because “I needed someone that not only I could trust, but also someone that the community has deep trust in — Rick is that person.
“Every conversation we’ve had has shown me he is ready for the work ahead,” Devlin said, “and is dedicated to making Erie a safe, thriving place for all community members.”
Lorah said it is an honor to be named chief, and it’s a responsibility he takes very seriously.
“I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and I’m ready to get to work,” he said.
Lorah said he and Devlin have a shared vision to create a safe and thriving city, with its police officers open and accessible to the people they serve. He said they plan to support the officers through both technology and training and will work to reduce crime using targeted enforcement and proactive strategies.
New administration: Erie mayor-elect Devlin unveils 15-person transition team
Lorah said he has learned a great deal from the police chiefs he has served under in his career, including Spizarny. He said he will take what he has learned from all of them in leading the city police force going forward.
New post, other appointments
Devlin is also creating a new position within the police bureau — captain of community policing and recruitment. She has tabbed Lt. Tom Lenox, a 20-year department veteran who directs the city’s Police Athletic League and heads police recruitment efforts, to fill that role.
“I’m committed to building an administration that listens, collaborates and delivers for every resident, and that starts with building a strong team, which we’ve begun today,” Devlin said. “From the very beginning, I’ve been focused on transparency, collaboration and building trust with our community, and community policing plays a key role in writing Erie’s next chapter.”
She said Lenox’s new position “will work to move Erie forward by strengthening connections, building trust, and increasing accountability and compassion between our police and our community.”
Regarding other police command staff positions, Devlin also announced that:
-
Jamie Russo, a 27-year veteran in law enforcement, will remain as deputy chief of the bureau’s Patrol Division. Russo has been the division’s acting deputy chief since the previous deputy chief, William Marucci, retired in late September. Russo has served the department as a Saturation Unit officer, a sergeant in the unit and most recently as lieutenant as the bureau’s community outreach and event coordinator.
-
Ken Kensill, a 28-year bureau member, will serve as deputy chief in the Criminal Investigation Unit. Kensill has served the bureau as a crime scene investigator, SWAT officer, crime scene supervisor, Training Unit sergeant and most recently as lieutenant in the Crime Scene and Evidence Unit.
-
Christopher Janus, a 27-year veteran of the Erie Bureau of Police, will serve as deputy chief in the Office of Professional Standards. Janus has been in the office since July 2022 and has also served the bureau as a lieutenant and technology coordinator, homicide supervisor, major crimes detective and supervisor in the Saturation Unit.
-
Kevin Fries, a 26-year department veteran, will serve as captain in the Patrol Division. He currently serves as a patrol group lieutenant and previously served as a patrol sergeant, corporal and field training officer in the Field Training Unit, and SWAT operator.
Spicer, 34, served as Devlin’s campaign manager. The Erie Times-News previously reported that Spicer would be Devlin’s chief of staff.
“Lori has been with me from the beginning. She’s a steady hand, an exceptional project manager, and someone who understands my needs,” Devlin said. “She’s deeply committed to helping write Erie’s next chapter, and her heart and her head are exactly what this role requires.”
Devlin is expected to announce additional appointments to her administration during the week of Dec. 29.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Here’s Mayor-elect Daria Devlin’s choice for Erie’s new police chief
