In a surprise announcement at the March 7 Emmaus Borough Council meeting, Emmaus Police Department Chief David A. Faust announced his retirement effective March 25.

In a letter to Mayor Winfield O. Iobst, Faust said he has been considering this significant step over the past year.

“I am certain the timing is right,” Faust said. “My leadership training and experience has taught me good leaders should be the ‘first and not the last’ to realize when it is time to leave. I leave with nothing but admiration for the borough, our police department and its people.”

Faust spent five years with the public works department and the last 30 years with the Emmaus Police Department.

Thanking the mayor for his guidance, Faust also thanked Councilwoman Lee Ann Gilbert, borough managers and members of borough council for their support through the years.

In an interview with The Press March 10, Faust said he is proud of the many police department accomplishments during his tenure.

“I am extremely proud of the team we have assembled over the last 16 years at the Emmaus Police Department,” Faust said. “With assistance from the mayor, borough council and the manager, we have developed a structure for the police department that will be successful for many years to come. This police department has always been about ‘us’ and never about ‘me.’ With the staff and young leadership that remain, they are going to do great things.”

The number one priority for Faust since day one has been officer safety.

“The health and welfare of our officers was always paramount. We have advanced our equipment and infrastructure to a point where the department will be able to build on that in the future from what we presently have. We have made equipment improvements for the individual officers on the street including the equipment they carry, our vehicle fleet and at our police headquarters.”

Faust is also proud of the state accreditation achieved in May, 2006.

“We have maintained that certification and it remains active today. Being accredited establishes the department among the elite in law enforcement in the commonwealth.”

Faust said the police department has cleared the greatest majority of all major crimes in Emmaus including murder cases, bank robberies and violent crimes.

“All of this was possible as a result of the untiring work from our investigators and patrol officers who deserve tremendous credit for their daily work and proactive activities. I’ve been blessed to work among and with the very best in the business,” Faust said.

While proud of the many accomplishments, Faust said he struggles with not having a school resource officer at Emmaus High School.

“We have formed an excellent working relationship with our schools and that partnership will remain intact indefinitely. We have wonderful students and staff in our schools; however, the mere size of the campus alone and our daily interactions with the high school warrants an officer in the future,” Faust said.

Faust said the population of the high school is comparable to the Borough of Alburtis.

Another struggle for Faust is an unsolved case from 1982.

“Although none of us in the current staff were active in 1982 when Barbara Solt was tragically murdered, I remain confident our department, along with the District Attorney’s office and Pennsylvania State Police, will resolve that case one day. The case remains active collectively and collaboratively.”

Faust told The Press there is no doubt he will miss the people in the department and those in the community the most. He said he will miss the students in the schools as well but plans on supporting them by attending a lot of their school activities.

“We have exceptional schools here in East Penn and we have great kids.”

Faust said he is leaving the department confident in the talent, education and skills of the personnel.

“They are positioned well and I expect them to move forward and achieve even higher levels of achievement and standards with more modern and fresh ideas coming from future leadership.”

Faust said he plans to continue residing in Emmaus and remain active in the community. He said he will be just around the block at the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Department working for and with Sheriff Joe Hanna.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Emmaus,” Faust said. “I wish nothing but the best for this community and for those who live, work and visit here. Emmaus will always be number one in my heart.”

It is expected borough council will name an interim chief at the March 21 meeting.