Born in Kempton, and growing up on the Lehigh County side, Wayne Holben had his sights set on a career as early elementary school. He recalls, “As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a police officer, and I wanted to help people.”
Upon graduating from Northwestern Lehigh High School, he wasted no time setting out to achieve his goal, enrolling in the Criminal Justice program at Alvernia University, which had just added the Reading Police Academy to its curriculum. Wayne graduated from Alvernia with a BS in Criminal Justice, and was an inaugural member of the first graduating class of the Reading Police Academy in the Spring of 2000.
In November of the same year, he was hired by the West Reading Borough Police Department, where he spent the next 25 years gaining experience with the K-9 department, serving as a detective, criminal investigator, evidence technician, police sergeant and police chief. “West Reading provided a lot of opportunity for experience in all different aspects of police work.”
On March 9, 2026, Wayne Holben was sworn in as Chief of the Northern Berks Regional Police Department. “After serving 25 years with West Reading, this opportunity came up and it was close to home. It was the community where I was raised; my family has lived here for 22 years. It was an opportunity for me to be a leader in my community, and I took that opportunity. To be selected as Chief is an honor and it’s a blessing to lead in that capacity. The police department is in the backyard that I grew up in, and it is a good department. I’ve seen their work being part of the community and what they do at the schools. I knew coming into the role the work ethic that the officers have and I was comfortable with it. I also knew the relationship they had with the community and the support they received from the community; all things that I was looking for.”
In his new role, Chief Holben has gone from serving in the community of West Reading, a small tight knit borough of one square mile where everyone knows one another, to a 26 square mile, three jurisdiction community, each one different. “I am learning how each community is different, and making sure that we take care of their specific needs and issues. We want to make sure that we have a pulse on these things and provide proper police service for them.”
When asked about the most interesting aspect of his job, Chief Holben replies, “Obviously, there is administrative work, but I do my best to get out in the community with the guys. I have a servant heart, to be out in the street and assist with calls. I enjoy seeing how officers solve problems when they arise. Everyone has their own unique way of doing things, and it is great to see them working together, using their specific talents and gifts, and getting positive results. We have a well-rounded police department that always puts forth a team effort. I like being engaged to stay in touch with what officers may need and to have their perspective on issues that arise. I value that connection and still being able to be hands on.”
The job of being a police officer is challenging and difficult and Chief Holben’s task is making sure his officers are able to function at the top of their game each day on the job.
“There are many aspects of the job of a police officer that are not easy. I need to make sure that their well-being is sound. Health and wellness is important, and I want to make sure that each officer comes to work healthy, both mentally and physically. If there are any issues, we want to take care of them. Police work today is more involved, with a lot more technology and documentation work being done. It would be nice to have an unlimited number of officers to take care of concerns in the community, but of course this is not always feasible. We do our best to make sure we are providing the best service possible within our budget. I see the work that they do and the service that they provide to the community and I am very proud of the effort they put forth. There is a lot more that comes with police work and want to make sure their health and wellness is properly managed.”
The rewards of serving 25 years as a police officer are many, and keep Chief Holben motivated to do his best to serve in the capacity of Chief of NBRPD. “I really enjoy watching officers go out and do the work, and seeing how that work affects the community in a positive way. The community supports and helps the department. We get to know the neighbors, and getting to know them helps us to do our job in helping them out; that is what we are here for. When you have a good neighbor, it is someone you can rely on and someone you can trust. We want the police department to gain that same trust. Our officers continue to gain that trust.”
There is a personal mission that drives this 25-year seasoned police officer which he abides by each day he heads to work. “Don’t be ordinary, don’t be average, give that extra when you can, take a bit more time on a call, go above and beyond, and be proud of the work you do.”
Back in his home community where he has lived for the past 22 years, Wayne Holben is happy to now work where he lives. “It is tough on families of police officers, home alone nights that you are not there. That takes its toll, you miss events, and you miss firsts. Although you understand the nature of the job when you take it on, you can’t forget that your wife and family are going through this too. Having less drive time to and from work frees up more time for family, even though you are never truly free of the job when you are in police work. Anytime I can spend with family is something I value. Faith is an important thing to have, and I enjoy going to church with my family. I also enjoy exercising and running to relieve stress. I’ve participated in several 5K races with my daughter, all to stay on top of my mental and physical health.”
As he starts a new chapter in his career as a police officer, Wayne shares the positivity he feels. “I received a warm welcome here, and I am working with an outstanding group of officers. I am consistently impressed with their strong connections to the community. I’ve received three different letters from residents since I’ve started, about the service they received, and the compassionate impact that they are receiving. Police work is a team sport; we are a well-rounded department, and we can lean on each other. We have a great team.”
