Bryan Kadingo, newly appointed police chief for the Borough of Northampton, views the safety of every resident, the community and the department as his priority.

The 51-year-old Kadingo, who has logged 27 years with the borough police department, does not expect to step into his new chief role and make sweeping changes, but rather intends to ensure public safety and continue to earn the trust placed in him to run an efficient and respected department.

As second in command for several years under former Police Chief Ron Morey, who retired Aug. 1, the sergeant’s experience is well documented, as attested by the Sept. 21 unanimous vote by council to appoint him to the position.

The affable police chief, whose smile is contagious, thanked officials for the confidence placed in him.

“I want to say I am very humbled by council in naming me chief and their confidence in me,” Kadingo told a crowd of family, friends and colleagues. “I was about 10 years old when I first became interested in becoming a policeman when I grew up.”

When asked what he sees as a serious challenge facing him and the department, Kadingo said, “Drugs - I have seen a big increase in heroin and opioid drugs in recent years. The drug epidemic is not only here in the borough, but just about everywhere.”

Realizing his new role will have him behind the desk at times, Kadingo said community policing is also important to him, adding he will be sure to take the time “to be out on the streets on patrol.”

“One of the things I want to bring back are the bike patrols by officers,” Kadingo said of a tactic he considers an effective deterrent to crime.

He said the K-9 unit and the D.A.R.E. program in the elementary schools will continue.

Kadingo is a 1983 graduate of Northampton High School. After enrolling at Lincoln Tech, he was accepted into Allentown Police Academy in 1989. Soon after, he accepted a position on the borough police force.

He and his wife, Kim, have a daughter, Jenna, 25, and a son, Justin, 28.