Former Lancaster police Chief John Bey has been hired as Dauphin County’s director of criminal justice, reports PennLive.
In his role, Bey will supervise the Dauphin County Prison, its work release program and its judicial center and will serve as their liaison to other components of county government and the community at large.
His appointment, and that of Kevin Myers as internal affairs investigator, are intended to address public concerns over the prison, where 17 inmates have died since 2019, PennLive said.
Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries said the hirings mark “a new era” for the facility.
In Lancaster, Bey replaced police Chief Jarrad Berkihiser, who stepped down in the fall of 2020. Initially appointed as interim chief, Bey became permanent chief the following summer.
He resigned last May and was succeeded by current police Chief Richard Mendez.
Prior to joining the Lancaster department, Bey had a 25-year career with the state police in various roles, then served as Middletown’s police chief from 2014 to 2017.
