Derek Holmes Named Chamber's Officer Of the Year

Reading Police Detective Derek Holmes was named the 2017 Officer of the Year by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce according to Chief Mark D. Segalla.

Detective Holmes was nominated by multiple Reading Police officers and members of the command staff, and was honored during the Chamber's annual meeting on Saturday, March 28, at Teresa's Prime in North Reading.

"Detective Holmes is an outstanding officer who has upheld the highest professional standards while serving our department for more than 20 years," Chief Segalla said. "His thorough investigation skills and meticulous report-writing have led to multiple arrests and convictions. He serves as a mentor to all of our officers and it is this leadership ability and solid work ethic that make him so deserving of this recognition."

Detective Holmes has served on the Reading Police Department for 21 years and some of his investigations include child enticement, check fraud, bank robberies, bank fraud, breaking and entering in the nighttime and credit card fraud.

Specific cases over the past year include a larceny scheme at a local restaurant that resulted in an arrest, a breaking and entering case where DNA was used to identify a suspect that ultimately led to an arrest, a human trafficking case that lead to a 4 1/2-year conviction and a 10-year probation sentence, and solving a bank robbery and two armed robberies.