MT. PENN, Pa. – Cake, hugs, and a room full of people with one message: Thank you.
After more than 40 years in law enforcement, Central Berks Regional Police Chief Ray Serafin is retiring.
“I started with this department back in 1985 part-time for one year, and then I began full-time in 1986,” Serafin said. “Through that time, I’ve held a couple positions — from sergeant to detective and then to chief.”
Serafin spent his entire career with the same department, serving Mount Penn Borough, Lower Alsace Township, Oley Township, and St. Lawrence Borough.
“What’s unique is really the people that we serve here,” he said. “They’re really a good group of people.”
Community members from Mount Penn and surrounding towns came together to offer their thanks and goodbyes to Serafin, after his more than four decades in law enforcement.
Borough Hall filled with applause as local leaders from across Berks County honored a chief many credit with helping modernize regional policing.
“It’s very community-oriented,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank. “Things like ‘National Night Out’ — this police department was among the first to adopt it. He looked at things like regional policing in a bigger, broader way than many others had in the past.”
As for retirement, Serafin says it will mean more time with family and maybe a little golf.
Still, leaving the job won’t be easy.
“I’ll miss my guys and the people,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest thing.”
Serafin’s last day with the department is in early February. Deputy Chief Justin Johnson will take over as Central Berks Regional police chief.