Salisbury Township is seeking a new police chief.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin J. Soberick plans to retire in October, according to Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich.

The township administration is advertising for the police chief position internally and publicly, Bonaskiewich said.

Soberick is a 27-year veteran of the township police department.

Soberick, a Lansford, Carbon County, resident, has been on the Salisbury police force since 1995.

He was promoted to sergeant in 2002. He has been sergeant of patrol officers, Special Operations Group and the K-9 Patrol.

Soberick served as second-in-command of the township police department since 2006. He was acting chief when the police chief was on extended leave or away.

Soberick succeeded Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles, who retired July 12, 2019, after 25 years as Salisbury police chief.

Soberick, then a sergeant, was appointed Salisbury Township acting police chief, effective July 12, 2019, by township commissioners at the June 27, 2019, meeting. He was sworn in as police chief Sept. 12, 2019.

Among the highlights of his township police department career, Soberick:

•Was selected as the only officer from Pennsylvania by the Department of Justice to attend the Rural and Small Agency conference, Coronado, Calif., to present small agency responses to active shooter events.

•Commanded Salisbury police security detail with the Secret Service for visits by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

•Organized security and police operations for Sen. John McCain when he visited Lehigh Valley Health Network.

•Established with Lehigh Valley Health Network quarterly meetings to address safety and security at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest.

•Attended counterterrorism training through the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response conducted with the Israeli Defense Force and the Israeli National Police.

Soberick was elected president of the Salisbury Police Officers Association in 2005.

He’s been a firefighter and assistant fire chief with the Coaldale Fire Company since 1984.

He received an associate in science degree in electronic tech from Lehigh Carbon Community College.

The police chief job was listed Aug. 19 on the township website: https://www.salisburytownshippa.org.

The township police chief manages a department of 18 full-time police officers, one part-time officer and seven civilian employees.

Deadline for applications is 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Applicants should send cover letter and resume to Cathy Bonaskiewich, township manager, 2900 S. Pike Ave., Allentown, 18103 or email cbonaskiewich@salisburytownshippa.org.