Oct 14, 2014 By Susan Schmeichel 1 min read

Bethel Park Council on Oct. 13 accepted the resignation of police Chief John Mackey and named a long-time member of the department as acting chief.

Mackey, who served as department chief since 2000, will leave the job later this month.

Council members appointed Lt. David Rogan to serve as acting chief of the 35-member department until they find a replacement for Mackey.

Mackey was a South Fayette police officer before becoming chief in Bethel Park. He was the first chief from the municipality to serve as president of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

“I thought he was a really good chief,” said Councilman Paul Dixon, who reminisced about voting to hire Mackey as one of his first acts as a council member. “He did a lot of great stuff for us.”

According to Dixon, council has not made a decision whether to appoint an new chief from within the department or to conduct an outside search.

“We’re going to look for the best candidate we can find,” he said.