Oxford Borough has hired Sam Iacono, a police lieutenant with the West Chester Borough Police Department, as the new police chief. He will officially begin leading Oxford’s police department on Sept. 10 after borough council unanimously approved the hiring during its meeting on Monday night.

Iacono brings 32 years of experience with him to the new position. Oxford Borough Mayor Lorraine Bell said that Iacono worked his way up through the ranks with the West Chester Police Department, serving as a patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. He was involved in all aspects of community policing—ranging from patrol operations and criminal investigations to police training and working on the narcotics division.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Iacono is also already familiar with Oxford—he is a longtime resident of the Oxford area.

“Our community is fortunate to have such an experienced leader coming to the Oxford Police Department,” Bell said. “We look forward to the knowledge and skills that Sam Iacono will bring to our department.”

Oxford Borough has been without a permanent police chief since the beginning of the year, which is when former police chief John Slauch’s contract expired.

Cpl. Scott Brown has very capably served as the interim police chief, and Bell lauded him for leading the department during a busy time that included the first Connective Festival, a large community event that took place without incident early this month. Bell said that Brown demonstrated considerable commitment and leadership during the last eight months while he served as the interim chief. She is looking forward to having a new police chief join the borough’s other police officers.

“We have such a dedicated group of men and women in the Oxford Police Department, and I am excited about the growth and positive change that Sam Iacono will bring to all of us in the borough,” Bell said.

Stacey Fuller, the borough’s solicitor, said that the search committee reviewed 25 applications for the police chief position, and Iacono was one of four candidates who were interviewed by the search committee.

Fuller said that Iacono made it clear to borough officials during the interview process that he was very happy with his role with West Chester Borough, and he expected to retire from that police department. However, the opportunity to lead the Oxford Police Department was one of only two positions that he would have left the West Chester Borough Police Department for because it would be a way for him to serve the community that he lives in.

An official swearing-in ceremony is being planned to welcome the new police chief, with Monday, Sept. 10 as the most likely date for the event. Plans for the event are still being developed.