There’s a changing of the guard underway at the City of Warren police department.

Police Chief Brandon Deppen has been hired as the Warren County School District’s Safety and Security Officer and will be resigning as chief effective July 24.

According to City Manager Nancy Freenock, Captain Joe Sproveri will assume the role of chief effective July 26.

“Chief (Deppen) has done an outstanding job for the city during his 23 year career,” Freenock said in an email to Warren City Council announcing the resignation. “Brandon prefers not to sit behind a desk; he relishes more active assignments. This position fulfills his career goals including the desire to return to the classroom as an instructor.”

In the corresponding move, Freenock said that Sproveri would be sworn in at the August council meeting.

“Captain Sproveri has served in the Warren Police Department for 14 years and was promoted to sergeant in 2012,” Freenock told council. “He was promoted again, following written and oral boards, to the Captain’s position in 2019.”

He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Edinboro and completed the Municipal Police Officer Academy at Mercyhurst.

“Captain Sproveri has been very active in the county-wide Drug Task Force and is a tactician,” Freenock said. “You may remember that the captain recently solicited $16,000 in donations from community leaders to replace all department firearms. He has served as the department’s accreditation coordinator and has the respect of the other officers and city staff.”

With the resignation and promotion, Freenock told council that announcements for captain and sergeant openings will be made and that the Pa. Chiefs Association will assist with reviewing candidates for those positions.

“It is my hope to have the promotions process completed so that the transition in July can be seamless,” Freenock said.