SEVEN FIELDS — Bryan DeWick is settling in a month after being promoted to chief of the Northern Regional Police Department.

Northern Regional Police Chief Bryan DeWick speaks to Seven Fields Borough Council during a meeting on Monday, Sept. 9. Hunter Muro/Butler Eagle

The 24-year veteran of the department addressed the Seven Fields Borough Council for the first time at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 9.

He assumed the role in early August following the retirement of Chief John Sicilia, who tagged along with the new chief for the meeting.

“Anybody who wants to be a police officer, obviously, that’s probably the ultimate goal to be chief one day,” said DeWick. “It’s a different role. I was just so close with our officers for so many years. It’s nice to now have an impact on their careers, their lives and their leadership development.”

After attending the Allegheny County Police Academy in 1998, DeWick became a member of the Pine-Marshall-Bradford Woods Police Department in 2000 before it evolved into the Northern Regional Department in 2006.

He earned the rank of sergeant in 2014 before being promoted to captain in 2020.

DeWick was quick to point out that Sicilia’s guidance has helped him adjust to the leading role.

“Since we both got promoted in 2020, we’ve worked side-by-side. Our offices were literally side-by-side,” he said. “He included me in everything, even with the preliminary meetings here (at Seven Fields). That’s what made it seamless for me. It was just another day at work. I got promoted, and the next day was the same as it was the day before, only I was in a different office and had a different badge.”

Members of borough council praised Sicilia for his constant communication and assistance while Seven Fields navigated a change in police presence at the beginning of this year.

“You were instrumental in putting us in the Northern Regional system,” Kimberly Regan-Koch, Seven Fields council president, said of Sicilia. “You have been fabulous, which is why we think Chief DeWick is going to be fabulous, too, because you chose him. We just want to thank you so much.”

DeWick assured the council there would be no drop-off in coverage under his leadership after taking over for his longtime friend and co-worker.

“Chief Sicilia and I have always had the same vision for what we wanted out of a police department,” DeWick said. “That vision is to serve our community as best we can. I assure you your service will not change with the changeover. We’ve got a good group of guys in place and a very young department, so they’ll all be around for a long time.”