Pennsylvania Mayor Criticizes “Love Island USA” Contestant Sean Reifel for Quitting Police Job to Join Reality Show

Brenton BlanchetTue, June 2, 2026 at 5:18 PM UTC

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Sean Feifel and Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds in 2025; Reifel on 'Love Island USA'
Credit: Bethlehem Police Department; Ben Symons/PEACOCK -

A Pennsylvania mayor and police chief are speaking out on the departure of an officer as he boards the new season of Love Island USA

Sean Reifel is part of the latest group of singles looking for love on the Peacock series

Love Island USA season 8 premieres on Tuesday, June 2

A Pennsylvania mayor is expressing his frustrations over a Love Island USA contestant who he says quit his police job to board the dating show.

On Friday, May 29, just one day after the season 8 cast was announced, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said that contestant Sean Reifel — who spoke about being a police officer in the season's latest teaser — resigned from his position with the Bethlehem Police Department to go on the show, according to WHTM. “Our police department spent a lot of time training and we paid thousands of taxpayer dollars to send him to the police academy. We are disappointed he left as we now have another vacancy in our department that is impossible to fill until next year,” Reynolds said, per the local outlet.

“I never thought I’d see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer," he added.

Sean David Feifel on 'Love Island USA'
Credit: Ben Symons/PEACOCK

The BPD previously announced Reifel was sworn in back in August 2025, sharing images of the now-reality star shaking hands with Reynolds after taking his oath on Facebook. At the time, the department wished him "success as he embarks on this journey of service to our community."

PEOPLE has reached out to the BPD. A spokesperson for Love Island USA declined to comment.

Police Chief Michelle Kott called the departure "extremely difficult" during an interview with The Morning Call on Saturday, May 30. "I love Sean, he’s a good guy, he was a great officer, but I’m disappointed," Kott said, confirming that Reifel's final day with the department was May 20. “Just because we work so incredibly hard to try to recruit the best people we can to be part of the Bethlehem Police Department.”

The city does not approve leave for secondary work, The Morning Call reported, citing Kott, who said departments nationwide are "struggling" to fill vacancies. “At this time, I don’t think there’d be a department that would be willing to allow someone to leave for ‘x’ amount of weeks to go on a television show when everyone’s hurting right now and overtime is being utilized to fill those gaps. Officers are getting burnt out. It’s just a bad look to me," Kott said, telling the outlet that Reifel could always apply again if he wants to return to work.

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Sean Reifel and Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds in August 2025
Credit: Bethlehem Police Department

In a separate statement, shared by The Morning Call, the mayor said "people can do what they want, but from our mission as far as the city of Bethlehem is, it’s to have a police department that is fully staffed and we take that responsibility very seriously."

While those involved in the city shared their downside to Reifel's decision to board the show, some commenters on The Morning Call's Facebook page weren't all supportive of the mayor speaking out. One reader wrote that the department "should have supported and milked that Love Island fame," while another noted that they "missed a great PR opportunity" following the casting news. "Crank out those 'we have hot cops' stickers and be positive and funny about this," they wrote. "The mayor and police chief need to live a little."

In the show's "Meet the Islanders" teaser, Reifel confirmed that he wasn't a "model" or "actor," but rather a police officer. "You could be having the worst day of your life, and I'd just help you sift through that," he said. "The more thoughtful you are, I think that s--- is so pretty. I love it."

Reifel — from Easton, Pa. — was announced by Peacock as one of the first 12 singles joining the villa as he looks for a romantic connection. He is also a dad to his son, who was born in June 2024, per his Instagram.

Season 8 will feature Ariana Madix returning as host. "The show really took off in a different way than it had before," she told PEOPLE in May 2026. "And to be able to say that — not only am I the host of my favorite show, but I'm also the host of the number-one show in all of streaming, scripted or unscripted — that's something I'm very, very proud to be a part of."

Season 8 of Love Island USA premieres June 2 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”