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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A veteran, high-ranking police officer is stepping down from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department next week, and officials say the city will look to replace John Curham with someone from within the ranks.</p><p>Curham, a 27-year member, serves as commander of operations until July 1. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.</p><p>Mayor Tony George confirmed Curham&#8217;s departure, saying he believed it was because Curham had reached the age of 50.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to restructure,&#8221; George said of filling the position, which was budgeted an annual salary of $79,437.</p><p>Curham had been in the number-two spot with Commander of Investigations Joseph Coffay since November 2014, when then Mayor Tom Leighton promoted him to oversee the day-to-day operations of the department.</p><p>Curham joined the force on March 27, 1989 and was promoted to sergeant in 1994. A year later, he became administrative sergeant, the position he held until becoming one of the commanders. He graduated from King&#8217;s College and also earned a degree in security management from Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska.</p><p>Sgt. Phil Myers, president of the Wilkes-Barre Police Benevolent Association, the union representing department members below the rank of captain, said Curham was &#8220;highly respected&#8221; inside and outside of the department.</p><p>&#8220;He was a good leader,&#8221; said Myers. &#8220;He did an awesome job. He was with the department for 27 years. It&#8217;s definitely going to be a huge loss for the department.&#8221;</p><p>The department will lose its most senior officer, or &#8220;number one badge,&#8221; with the departure of Patrolman Francis Dehaut, who will retire Friday, George said. The mayor said Dehaut has been with the department for more than 30 years.</p><p>George, a former police chief, said he worked with both Curham and Dehaut and described them as &#8220;good guys.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Police Department Commander of Operations John Curham, center, will step down next week after 27 years on the force. His wife Karen participated in his swearing in on Nov. 7, 2014 by then Mayor Tom Leighton, right, at City Hall. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL110814commander-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes-Barre Police Department Commander of Operations John Curham, center, will step down next week after 27 years on the force. His wife Karen participated in his swearing in on Nov. 7, 2014 by then Mayor Tom Leighton, right, at City Hall. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

High-ranking Wilkes-Barre police officer departing after 27 years on duty