South Whitehall honors fire chief’s 50 years of service, welcomes new police officer
At the April 1, meeting of the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners, officials recognized both a remarkable legacy of service and the beginning of a new chapter in public safety.
The first presentation was a Distinguished Service Award honoring Woodlawn Fire Department Chief Barry Search for an extraordinary 50 years of volunteer service to the township.
“South Whitehall Township, the Board of Commissioners, and the citizens of South Whitehall Township would like to take this time to recognize Chief Barry Search for 50 years of volunteer service, from 1976 to the present,” the proclamation stated.
Search began his service in 1976 and became assistant chief in 1979, a role he held for more than four decades.
In 2021, he assumed the position of chief of the Woodlawn Fire Department.
Throughout his tenure as assistant chief, he frequently stepped in as acting chief when needed, demonstrating consistent leadership and commitment.
Township officials praised Search’s decades of dedication, noting his many contributions to South Whitehall Township, the surrounding communities of Lehigh County, and beyond.
“We proudly honor you, Chief Barry Search, and are truly grateful for your outstanding and continued service to this great community,” the proclamation concluded.
The second presentation marked a milestone for the South Whitehall Township Police Department, as Officer Carlos Souza was formally welcomed during a badge pinning ceremony.
Souza was hired on Nov. 3, 2025, and is a graduate of the Temple University Police Academy, Class 25-02.
He completed the program on March 10, meeting all requirements under MPOETC Act 120.
A 2009 graduate of Emmaus High School in the East Penn School District, Souza joined the Army National Guard in 2019 and continues to serve.
Before joining South Whitehall Township, he worked for two years as a certified police officer with the New Castle County Police Department in Delaware.
Souza was officially sworn in on March 19 and has begun Phase One of the department’s field training program.