Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo has selected Easton McDonald, a law enforcement veteran with nearly three decades of experience, as his choice to lead the city's Bureau of Police.
McDonald, who most recently served as the assistant police chief in Alexandria, Virginia, will be presented to the Lancaster City Council for appointment at their meeting on Tuesday (January 27). If approved, he would begin his role on February 2.
"At the public meet-and-greet in December and in conversations with staff, Easton McDonald really listened, engaged, and demonstrated that his values align with the values of the Lancaster community," Arroyo said in a statement released Thursday.
McDonald, 59, emerged as the top choice from three finalists, beating out Brian Wiczkowski, West Lampeter Township's police chief who previously spent about 20 years with Lancaster city, and Mirtha Ramos, former chief of the DeKalb County Police Department in Georgia.
During a public meet-and-greet event held in December, McDonald emphasized his leadership philosophy. "I'm very big on development of staff. So, I want to develop the staff of the department. I can meet with every single one of those staff members if I'm selected," McDonald told CBS 21. "What I would look forward to most coming here is to listen. Listen to the officers, listen to the community, both internal and external. And then after about 100 days, putting those plans into operation."
McDonald brings extensive experience to the role. Before serving as assistant chief in Alexandria, he spent 21 years with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, retiring as a major overseeing the operational support division. His career began in 1997 at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center in New Jersey.
As assistant chief in Alexandria, McDonald implemented Community Assistance Safety and Quality-of-Life teams credited with reducing crime citywide. He also expanded community engagement through programs like "Coffee with a Cop" and developed force metrics for the department.
If appointed, McDonald would succeed Richard Mendez, who retired at the end of 2025 after 25 years with the department. The police chief position is budgeted at $179,770, and McDonald would oversee a department of 118 officers, with 10 more candidates currently in the police academy.
McDonald would be Lancaster's first police chief from outside Pennsylvania in more than 30 years, according to reports. The city used Rocklin, California-based Public Sector Search & Consulting to identify potential candidates.
The Lancaster City Council will vote on McDonald's appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday.