SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The South Whitehall Township Police Department has a new captain and lieutenant.
The township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Stephen Brown to captain and Eric Dotter to lieutenant.
- South Whitehall commissioners unanimously appointed Capt. Stephen Brown and Lt. Eric Dotter at their meeting Wednesday
- Both are Parkland High School graduates and graduates of Allentown Police Academy
- Brown will serve in the department's No. 2 position. in the department. The position previously was held by Michael Sorrentino, who retired in September after 33 years with the department
Brown previously served as lieutenant for the department, and Dotter as a sergeant. Both are Parkland High School graduates.
Chief Glen Dorney said there still are three vacancies in the administrative staff of the police department because of difficulties recruiting new patrol officers.
Capt. Stephen Brown
Brown graduated from Parkland in 2001, then served in the United States Navy. He is a graduate of Allentown Police Academy’s 80th class.
Brown was hired by South Whitehall police in 2007. He has been the department's coordinator of community relations since 2009.
Before being promoted, he was the department’s lieutenant of administration. His responsibilities included serving as the professional standards officer, accreditation manager and internal affairs investigator.
The position of captain is the No. 2 rank in the department. Michael Sorrentino previously held the position before retiring in September after 33 years with the department.
Lt. Eric Dotter
Dotter graduated from Parkland in 2005, then attended Penn State University. He graduated from Allentown Police Academy in 2010.
He was hired by South Whitehall police in 2012 and promoted to sergeant in 2019.
Dotter has been a member of the Lehigh County municipal emergency response team since 2014, and currently is a team leader. He also is a firearms instructor, taser instructor, less lethal instructor, certified bike officer and Project Lifesaver coordinator.
Dotter will serve in Brown’s former position as lieutenant of administration.
Other business
The commissioners discussed contracting the Lehigh Valley Humane Society for stray animal service instead of the current organization the township has a contract with the Sanctuary at Haafsville.
The Humane Society would charge less, but would have a cap on the number of cats it would trap, neuter and release.
After discussion including representatives from the Sanctuary at Haafsville, the commissioners left the decision to Township Manager Tom Petrucci.
