Mayor swears in Michael Phelan as Lorain police chief

Mayor Bradley formally swore in Michael Phelan as chief of the Lorain Police Department during Tuesday’s Lorain City Council meeting. The mayor recounted Phelan’s long service in the department and his response during a recent tragedy, and Phelan took the oath of office in front of family and department members before his daughter pinned on his badge. The mayor described Phelan as a leader who “steps up,” delegates authority to subordinates and is “a partner with our citizens.”

The mayor read a short biography noting Phelan was hired as a detention officer in 1994, became a patrol officer in 1996, served as a school resource officer and the department’s first crime analyst, and most recently served as deputy police chief. During the ceremony Phelan repeated the oath to “uphold the Constitution of the United States” and to “faithfully, honestly and impartially discharge [his] duties as chief of police of the Lorain Police Department.”

Council members and members of the public in attendance offered congratulations; the mayor presented a challenge coin and attendees included retired officers and family members. No formal council action or vote was required for the swearing-in, which the council recorded as part of other ceremonial business.

The ceremony concluded with brief remarks from Chief Phelan thanking his family and the community.