The Village of Bath has taken a significant step in securing its law enforcement leadership by extending a conditional offer to Donald Lewis as the new Chief of Police.
The decision comes less than a month after the sudden retirement of former Chief Colin Taft. Lewis has accepted the offer, pending a successful civil service exam and background check.
Lewis brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as a Criminal Investigator and Assistant SWAT Commander with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. His law enforcement career began in 1997 with the Canisteo Police Department, followed by his appointment as a full-time deputy sheriff with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office in 1998. Additionally, he has prior experience with the Bath Police Department, where he worked as a part-time officer from 2003 to 2008. In 2012, Lewis was promoted to his current position within the Sheriff’s Office, further strengthening his credentials for the new role in Bath.
Bath Mayor Michael Sweet expressed confidence in Lewis’s abilities, stating, “The village is confident Lewis’s experience and dedication to the law enforcement profession will immensely benefit the Village of Bath Police Department and the community as a whole.”
As the process moves forward, residents and officials alike anticipate a smooth transition in leadership, with Lewis expected to bring his extensive law enforcement background and leadership skills to enhance public safety in the Village of Bath.
