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Chief Gina F. Cocchiara began her policing career in 1994 and joined the Bethlehem Police Department in 1998. She has been a resident of the Town of Bethlehem since 2000. Officer Cocchiara started in the Patrol Division and was later promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2008. After spending several years working in the Patrol Division, Sergeant Cocchiara was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2015, leading Detectives in both the Detective’s Office and the more specialized division, the Family Services Unit. In 2020, Detective Sergeant Cocchiara was promoted to the rank of Chief of Police in August of 2020, where she currently leads all operations within the Bethlehem Police Department. Chief Cocchiara is the first woman in the history of the Bethlehem Police Department to attain any rank above a patrol officer and, most notably, the rank of Chief.
Chief Cocchiara was born in Suffern, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. She is on the Board of Directors of the Zone 5 Police Training Academy and an active member in the International and New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, Northeastern Chiefs of Police Association (NECOP), the State of New York Police Juvenile Officers Association (SNYPJOA), and currently the President of the New York Women in Law Enforcement Association (NYWLE).
Outside of work, Chief Cocchiara enjoys spending time with her partner hiking, riding bicycles, and taking quick trips to explore new places. Chief Cocchiara is an avid New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys fan.
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