PA State Police Leader Leaving For New Job

The leader of the Pennsylvania State Police will retire early next year to join the FBI, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office announced Wednesday.

Col. Christopher Paris, an attorney and longtime trooper who has led the department since the start of the Shapiro administration in 2023, will step down Jan. 2, 2026.

Lt. Col. George Bivens, the current deputy commissioner of operations, will take the role of acting commissioner on Dec. 31.

Paris’ role with the FBI was not immediately announced.

“It has been an honor to lead the dedicated men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Paris said in a statement. “Serving the people of Pennsylvania in this capacity has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.”

Appointed in January 2023 and confirmed that March of that year, Paris oversaw one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies, with a workforce of more than 6,500 employees.

Paris’ tenure was marked by high-profile incidents, including the assassination attempts on then-former President Donald Trump and Shapiro, as well as the successful 2023 manhunt for escaped killer Danilo Cavalcante.

Shapiro’s office credited Paris with strengthening accountability and improving public trust during a period when the administration says violent crime in the state fell by nearly 12 percent and homicides dropped by 34 percent.

“Colonel Paris has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the utmost integrity and distinction for 26 years,” Shapiro said.

Paris enlisted in the state police in 1999 and held various leadership roles before becoming commissioner. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, he is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. In 2014, he was the station commander in Pike County when a gunman killed one trooper and wounded another, sparking a 48-day manhunt that drew international attention.

Bivens, who will lead the agency during the transition, is a long-time veteran who joined the force in 1985. He is well known for leading the 2014 manhunt for Eric Frein and the more recent search for Cavalcante.

Bivens was demoted during a 2016 leadership change, but he later regained his rank. He previously received a Medal of Commendation for his actions during a 1998 confrontation with Ku Klux Klan members in Somerset County.

“Lt. Colonel Bivens is a seasoned, respected leader with decades of experience who will step in and lead the State Police with steadiness and resolve,” Shapiro said.

Bivens said he was honored by the appointment and intends to continue the agency’s mission of keeping communities safe and supporting troopers.