Penn State Berks Police Chief Robert Rehrer will retire in July 2011 after 15 years of service to Penn State Berks. Under his leadership, Police Services has expanded its scope of operations and the department became an armed unit in 2002.
“When I was hired at the campus, they were looking for someone to build the department,” stated Rehrer. “That’s what we’ve done over the last 15 years; we’ve become a very capable, competent and professional unit.”
A graduate of the PA State Police Academy in Hershey, Rehrer started his career as a police officer in Ontelaunee and then Spring Townships before assuming the role of manager of security at Carpenter, and finally coming to Penn State Berks.
He recalls taking night classes at the campus when he was a police officer in Spring Township and earning both his associate degree in Community Services and his baccalaureate degree in administration of justice from Penn State Berks. He went on to earn his master’s degree in criminal justice administration from West Chester University.
When asked about his plans for retirement, Rehrer commented that he plans to pursue his lifelong passion for photography. He resides with his wife Marcia in Wernersville. They have three grown children.