Ramapo’s Police Chief Weidel To Retire in June
Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht announced that after over forty years of policing, Town of Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel will be retiring June 11, 2021. The Town has selected Captain Martin Reilly as the next Chief of Police effective June 12, 2021.
Chief Weidel began his law enforcement career in December 1980 with the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department as a Patrol Deputy. In September 1981 he was appointed to the Town of Ramapo Police Department. Chief Weidel rose through the ranks. In 1987 he was promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant in 2003, Detective Lieutenant in 2004, Captain in 2010 and to Chief in February of 2016. Chief Weidel is a graduate of the 219th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico VA.
Captain Reilly has more than 36 years of law enforcement experience. 34 of which have been with the Town of Ramapo Police Department. Captain Reilly said “I thank Supervisor Specht and the Town Board for their support and confidence in me. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I’d like to congratulate Chief Weidel on his distinguished career and for his leadership and support. I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Captain Reilly began his career at the Orange County Police Academy in September 1984. He was appointed to the Town of Woodbury Police Department in January 1985. In April 1987 he was hired by the Town of Ramapo Police Department. In 1999 he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2007 he was assigned to the Special Services Division where he was the supervisor of the Traffic Safety Officers, Community Police Officers, School Resource Officers, and DARE Officers. He was also the coordinator of the Ramapo Police Youth Academy. In 2010 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Patrol Division. In 2016 he was promoted to Captain where he served as Operations Commander in the Administrative Division. He was responsible for the overall operation of the Patrol, Investigations and Special Services Divisions.
In 2019, he was appointed Chief of Staff and was designated as the second in command of the police department. During his career Capt. Reilly has served as a Police Instructor, Field Training Officer, Honor Guard member and Adopt-a-Cop officer. He is a past Vice President of the Ramapo PBA and served as a union delegate. Capt. Reilly has received recognition and awards from the Town of Ramapo and community groups. He is a member of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, Rockland County Police Chief’s Association, Mid-Hudson Police Chief’s Association, Rockland County Police Benevolent Association, Rockland County Police Emerald Society and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 957.
Chief Weidel said, “I want to congratulate Captain Reilly on his selection as Chief of Police. I have complete confidence in his abilities and have no doubt that he will do an excellent job as Chief. For the past forty years I have had the privilege of serving the residents of the Town of Ramapo as a police officer. It has been an especially distinct honor to have served as Chief of Police for the past five plus years. I thank Supervisor Specht and the Ramapo Town Board for their unwavering support of law enforcement and its mission. I especially want to acknowledge and commend members of the Ramapo Police Department for their professionalism and service. I believe that the Town of Ramapo Police Department is amongst the finest law enforcement agencies in the Country today.”
Chief Weidel acknowledges that he will miss his job, co-workers and all the officials he interacted with over his career. Although he will no longer be policing he plans to remain active in his community. Most importantly, he is looking forward to spending more time with his greatest and most critical support system all these years, his wife and three children.
