HARRISBURG – The Senate Law and Justice Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Regan (R-31), today advanced the nomination of Maj. Chris Paris to be the next commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).
Paris was nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro and currently serves as the area commander for more than 20 northeastern counties in Pennsylvania with a complement of approximately 1,000 enlisted and civilian personnel.
“Major Paris has a wealth of experience in law enforcement and has worked his way up the chain of command,” said Regan, who served in law enforcement as the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prior to his entry into public service. “He began as a state trooper in a patrol unit and now stands poised to be the next commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.”
Paris has served in his current role as one of four PSP area commanders since January 2022.
He began his service with PSP in November 1999 as a state trooper with Troop K and served in a patrol unit based in Skippack.
Paris began serving in June 2013 as a lieutenant and station commander with Troop R at the Blooming Grove barracks. He was in that position on Sept. 12, 2014, when the barracks came under attack by domestic terrorist Eric Frein. Paris served as station commander during the 48-day manhunt that ended in the eventual capture of Frein, who later was sentenced to death for the attack.
Paris advanced through the ranks of the PSP, becoming a captain with Troop R before advancing to major when he joined the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards. Paris again was promoted in January 2020 to lieutenant colonel when he became deputy commissioner of administration and professional responsibility, one of three deputy cabinet secretaries in former Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration who helped the former commissioner run the PSP.
Paris graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Scranton in 1998 before earning his law degree from Temple University in 2004.
“Major Paris has an impressive record of service during his more than 20 years with the Pennsylvania State Police,” Regan said. “As a strong backer of law enforcement, I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead the Pennsylvania State Police and look forward to working with him to support the men and women who serve our commonwealth as state troopers.”
The committee through a unanimous, bipartisan vote advanced Paris’s nomination, which now heads to the Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.
More information about Regan is available by visiting his website at www.SenatorMikeReganPa.com.
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