Jon Pesesko: Police Sergeant by Title; Bike Patrol Enthusiast at Heart

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by Blake Kuntz, PCI #1443
Bethlehem (PA) Police Department

In 2015, Sergeant Jonathan Pesesko retired after twenty-one years with the Bethlehem Police Department. Jon was an excellent cop, but nothing about his career was more prominent than his enjoyment and skill as a police cyclist. He received his IPMBA certification in 2002 and never looked back.

Jon first put his certification to work as a Community Police Officer in the Bethlehem Housing Authority area. He used his skills to impress and interact with the community on a more personal level. This was not something that had previously been accomplished in this area of the city.

Continuing on, Jon followed his cycling passion by becoming an IPMBA Police Instructor, EMS Instructor, and Mechanic. He utilized his skills on a daily basis and taught numerous officers in the classes he lead throughout the years. More importantly, he passed on the passion of bike patrol to those officers. This was shown through his real-life experiences on bike patrol and his delivery of the material.

Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association Officer of the Year, Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year, or Award of Merit recipient would not be what Jon would identify as his top accomplishment. If asked, he would not actually say it, but he would think, “I got first place, police cyclist, at the 2014 IPMBA Competition, and I’m 50!” Jon earned a total of thirteen medals through his IPMBA competitions and he was proud of each one.

Two years before he retired, Jon was already making sure the bike program would continue in his absence. Most would be concerned with what they were going to do next or focused on their pension numbers. Not Jon. He was concerned with identifying and mentoring instructors who would maintain the bike program to the standard that he and fellow instructor Jason Schiffer established. True to form, his last two years were spent completing this task. Not only did he complete it, he plans on assisting with classes even though retired from the department.

Jon is continuing his career in law enforcement as an officer with the North Catasaqua Police Department, but he has traded in his two wheels for four. The City of Bethlehem Police Department and all future bike officers thank Sergeant Jonathan Pesesko for his dedication, support, and service to the department, and especially to the bike program.

Jon’s Career Highlights

1986-1993 – Served as an MP in the United States Army.

1995 – Hired by Bethlehem Police Department.

2002 – Trained as an IPMBA Bike Officer.

2003 – Started patrolling on bike as a community police officer in Permbroke-Marvine.

2003 – Attended first IPMBA Conference in Charleston, West Virginia; took second place, Male 30-39 and first place, Team.

2005 – Certified as an IPMBA Instructor at the IPMBA Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

2006 – Took first place, Male 40-49, second place, Team, at the IPMBA Competition in Dayton, Ohio.

2007 – Certified as an IPMBA Maintenance Officer at the IPMBA Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

2009 – Took first place, Male 40-49, second overall, at the IPMBA Competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2010 – Took first place, Male 40-49, first overall, at the IPMBA Competition in Chesterfield-Saint Louis, Missouri.

2010 – Saved life of a domestic violence victim from a stabbing in progress.

2010 – Named Police Officer of the Year by the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association.

2010 – Named Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year.

2010 – Promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the newly formed, proactive Street Crimes Unit.

2011 – Took first place, Team, at the IPMBA Competition in Richmond, Virginia.

2012 – Took second place, Team, at the IPMBA Competition in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

2014 – Took first place, Male over 50; first place, Public Safety; and second overall at the 2014 IPMBA Competition in Tampa, Florida.

Career – Received 21 Letters of Commendation, one Award of Merit Medal, nine citizen letters of appreciation and 13 IPMBA medals (including both individual and team).

Blake was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in 2010 and as an IPMBA Instructor in 2015. He is a proud member of “Team Bethlehem” and is proud to have been selected to help uphold the tradition of the Bethlehem Police Department’s Bike Patrol. He can be reached at bkuntz@bethlehem-pa.gov.

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