The rookie officer and father was recently announced as one of 12 Islanders on Season 8 of Peacock’s hit reality dating show “Love Island USA.” Reifel was sworn into the Bethlehem Police Department on Aug. 18, 2025, according to a department social media post. His last day on the job was reportedly May 20.<\/p>\n
But as Reifel heads to the villa ahead of the show’s Tuesday, June 2 premiere, local officials say his departure leaves behind more than an empty desk.<\/p>\n
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds told ABC27<\/a> that the city invested thousands of taxpayer dollars in Reifel’s police academy training and was disappointed to lose him less than a year after he joined the force. Reynolds said the vacancy created by Reifel’s exit likely won’t be filled until 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cI never thought I\u2019d see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer,” the mayor told ABC27.<\/p>\n The timing is particularly frustrating for a department already battling staffing shortages,\u00a0The Morning Call<\/a>\u00a0reports.\u00a0The department currently has 15 vacancies among its 152 sworn officers,\u00a0Police Chief Michelle Kott told the outlet. Replacing even one officer is a lengthy process,\u00a0requiring months of academy instruction, department training, and field supervision before recruits can patrol on their own.<\/p>\n Kott said the department works “incredibly hard” to recruit top candidates and expressed disappointment over Reifel’s decision to leave.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Reifel is introducing himself to a much different audience.<\/p>\n “I’m not a model, I’m not an actor. I’m a police officer. You could be having the worst day of your life and I’ll just help you sift through that. The more thoughtful you are I think that sh– is so pretty, I love it.”<\/p>\n New episodes of “Love Island USA” will drop every day at 9 p.m.<\/p>\n Click here for more from ABC27 <\/a>and here for more from The Morning Call.<\/a><\/p>\n