Nesquehoning has a new police chief.

On Wednesday, borough council voted to promote full-time officer Michael Weaver to the new head of the department. He replaces Chief Sean Smith, who retired earlier this year.

Councilman Louis Paul, chair of the public safety committee, said that “Mike worked diligently with veteran police officer Carl Breiner to keep our short-handed police department running.”

He also helped in recruiting new officer Corey Herring and has been working at implementing new systems in the department.

Paul said Weaver has a letter of recommendation from several police chiefs in the area and in his time with the borough, has earned the respect of the people of the town, as well as council.

“We believe Mike will bring integrity and progress to our police department that will bring it up to its full potential to protect and serve the people of Nesquehoning,” Paul said.

Weaver’s new position goes into effect on Aug. 1.

It will include a three-and-a-half year contract, which is currently still being finalized. It will be good through 2025.

Council President David Hawk declined to say how much Weaver will be paid due to the contract not being signed by all parties yet.

After the vote, Mayor Tom Kattner congratulated Weaver.

Weaver said he was “honored, eager and excited” and can’t wait to start in his new position.

Weaver and Herring then turned the table on Kattner, presenting him with an honorary police badge and wallet.

Weaver is no stranger to the Nesquehoning community.

As a native of the borough, he knows the town and is ready to protect and serve the people.

Weaver got his start in law enforcement as a Tamaqua police officer, as well as in Schuylkill Haven and Rush Township before being hired in March in Nesquehoning.

“It’s nice coming back home,” he said. “It’s a more vested interest in the community. It’s somewhere you grew up your entire life and you know everybody.”

He said his plans for the department include a more “community-oriented approach.”

“We want to be more visible, because you know, the drug issues going on, but we also want to rebuild that trust and better relationship with the public and the schools.

“If anybody ever needs anything, we want that open community that they can always come to us and voice their concerns.”

In other police matters, council voted to a change of status for Carl Breiner, who has been serving as the officer in charge for the last year.

Effective Aug. 1, he will return to patrolman.

Council agreed to put a letter of commendation in Breiner’s file for his dedication to the job.

Paul said Breiner went “above and beyond” during a very challenging time in the department, serving and the sole police officer for the borough for several months.

Kattner called Breiner “Superman” for running the department during that time.