Chief Thody Announces Appointment of Deputy Chief and Deputy Director of Administrative Operations

NEW BEDFORD, MA — Chief Jason Thody is pleased to announce the appointment of Assistant Deputy Chief Derek Belong as the new Deputy Chief and Debra J. Piehl as Deputy Director of Administrative Operations of the New Bedford Police Department.

As Deputy Chief of Operations, ADC Belong will direct all sworn personnel and oversee patrol operations, criminal investigations, specialized units, training, professional standards, and other core public safety functions. He will also serve as Acting Chief of Police in the absence of the Chief, ensuring continuity of command and the effective functioning of the organization. As Deputy Director of Administrative Operations, Piehl will oversee the department’s administrative infrastructure, including budget management, human resources, technology integration, dispatch and communications, facilities, grants, crime analysis, data collection, contracts, and strategic planning. Combined, these two positions will serve as the department’s second-in-command, providing leadership across both the front-end operational and back-end supportive components of the organization.

ADC Belong joined the department on Aug. 15, 2004, and brings more than 22 years of law enforcement experience spanning patrol, investigations, and executive leadership. He began as a patrol officer and later served as a narcotics detective and an ATF task force officer, gaining extensive experience in complex criminal investigations and interagency collaboration.

Throughout his career, he has advanced through the ranks from Patrol Sergeant to Captain, ultimately serving the last two years as Assistant Deputy Chief. He also served as Acting Chief from May 2025 until Chief Thody assumed his role in July. He has been the Commanding Officer for two of New Bedford’s biggest events, the New Bedford Half Marathon and the Madeira Feast.

In his most recent role as Assistant Deputy Chief, he oversaw all major crimes investigations, recruitment and training, budget and payroll services, and internal affairs investigations. His leadership reflects a strong commitment to operational excellence, officer development, and strategic safety management.

Derek holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College. He will attend the Senior Management Institute for Police in July 2026.

Debra J. Piehl currently serves as the Analytical Director for Strategic Analysis for Focused Engagement with Results (SAFER), where she supports and trains law enforcement agencies nationwide in implementing evidence-based, analysis-driven operations to reduce crime, crashes, and other public safety concerns. She is contracted through the International Directors of Law Enforcement Standards & Training (IADLEST).

Piehl has also worked with Teneo Risk Advisory on public safety data initiatives and served as a subject-matter expert in CompStat operational management, which emphasizes accountability, strategic resource deployment, and continuous evaluation to improve public safety outcomes.

She has served police agencies at the local, state, and federal levels and, most recently, was a Senior Analyst with the New York City Police Department, where she established and supervised the NYPD’s first civilian crime analyst program, deploying more than 90 analysts to support CompStat and ongoing crime and crash reduction efforts. Previously, she served as CompStat Director for the Massachusetts State Police and, earlier, as Director of Planning and Research and CALEA Accreditation Manager for the Newton Police Department. She holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Piehl was the recipient of the inaugural 2019 Bryan Hill IACA Memorial Scholarship in recognition of her mentorship and support of crime analysts worldwide. She also received the International Association of Crime Analysts President’s Award in 2017, as well as in 2010 and 2003. Debra serves on the IACA 2026 Conference Committee, is Secretary of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement (MAPLE), and is a task force contributor for the Intergovernmental Justice Information Systems (IJIS), where she has helped develop guidelines and specifications for public safety records management systems (RMS).

“I’m confident that in their new roles, Deputy Chief Belong and Debra Piehl will be tremendous assets to our department,” Chief Thody said. “These appointments reflect our commitment to strong leadership, innovation, and data-informed policing. Derek’s experience within this department and Debra’s nationally recognized expertise in crime analysis will help position the New Bedford Police Department to continue enhancing public safety and serving our community effectively.”

“With these two hires, Chief Thody has upgraded the department’s capacity to ensure public safety and maintain the public’s trust,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “Deputy Chief Belong has excelled in every assignment over his career, including his recent status as Acting Chief, where I had the opportunity to observe his leadership skills firsthand. Chief of Staff Piehl will bring a wealth of expertise in public administration, which will enable her to have an immediate impact on the department’s critical back-office operations.”

Start dates for Deputy Chief Belong and Deputy Director Piehl will be forthcoming.