New Bedford Police Add Deputy Chief, Strengthen Command Structure

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody announced two appointments to positions within the department today, including a Deputy Police Chief for the first time in a year and a half.

Assistant Deputy Chief Derek Belong has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief, the first person to hold that position since Adelino Sousa departed from the NBPD on June 8, 2024. Thody also named Debra J. Piehl as Deputy Director of Administrative Operations.

A New Bedford Police Department release stated that the two positions combined “will serve as the department’s second-in-command, providing leadership across both the front-end operational and back-end supportive components” of the department.

New Bedford Deputy Police Chief Derek Belong's Role

In his new role, Belong will “direct all sworn personnel and oversee patrol operations, criminal investigations, specialized units, training, professional standards, and other core public safety functions,” according to the release. “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.”

Deputy Director of Administrative Operations Debra Piehl's Role

Meanwhile, 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.”

Derek Belong's History With New Bedford Police

Belong has been part of the NBPD since August 15, 2004, starting as a patrol officer and later serving as a narcotics detective and an ATF task force officer. He has risen through the ranks from patrol sergeant to captain, and has been Assistant Deputy Chief for the past two years. He also served as Acting Chief from May 2025 until Chief Thody assumed his role in July 2025.

As pointed out in the release, Belong “has been the Commanding Officer for two of New Bedford’s biggest events, the New Bedford Half Marathon and the Madeira Feast.” He 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.

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Debra Piehl’s National Crime Analysis Experience

Piehl joins the department from her current role as 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 has a background in operational management and public safety data initiatives, and “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.” She holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Chief Thody Highlights Leadership Strategy

“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.”

Mayor Mitchell Praises Expanded Command Team

“With these two hires, Chief Thody has upgraded the department’s capacity to ensure public safety and maintain the public’s trust,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “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.”