In November 2022, Detective Emily Falko of the Bethlehem Police Department stood at DeSales University to receive the Col. John K. Schafer Memorial Award as Police Officer of the Year. The nomination came from Chief Michelle Kott and her supervisor, Lt. Michael DiLuzio, who detailed the work that earned Falko the recognition: exemplary investigative efforts including a 2020 homicide case and online investigations targeting child predators.
The Work Behind the Award
Detective work in a city like Bethlehem requires a combination of analytical skill, persistence, and the emotional fortitude to deal with the worst things human beings do to each other. Falko has demonstrated all three. Homicide investigations are among the most demanding assignments in law enforcement, requiring detectives to piece together evidence, interview witnesses, coordinate with forensic specialists, and build cases that can withstand the scrutiny of the courtroom. Falko's work on the 2020 case was detailed enough and thorough enough to earn recognition from police chiefs across Lehigh County.
Her work investigating online predators is equally significant. Crimes against children in the digital space are a growing concern for law enforcement nationwide, and the investigations are technically complex and emotionally draining. The officers who do this work are exposed to material that most people cannot even imagine, and they do it because the victims deserve justice and the communities deserve protection. Falko's dedication to this area of investigation speaks to both her professional skill and her personal commitment to the most vulnerable members of the community.
What Recognition Means
The Schafer Memorial Award is one of the most prestigious honors available to law enforcement in Lehigh County. Named for a former commanding officer of the Pennsylvania State Police, it recognizes officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication, professionalism, and impact. For Falko, the award was a recognition of years of sustained excellence, not a single moment of heroism but a body of work that has made Bethlehem safer.
Chief Kott's decision to nominate Falko also signals the department's values. Bethlehem has invested in its investigative capabilities, and officers like Falko represent the return on that investment. Good detective work does not always make headlines, but it is the foundation of effective law enforcement. Cases are solved. Predators are identified. Families get answers. That work happens quietly, behind the scenes, and it deserves recognition.
The Bigger Picture
Falko's award came alongside recognition for other Lehigh County detectives, including Timothy Salgado, James Bruchak, and Gail Struss, all of whom received Schafer Awards for their investigative contributions. Together, these honorees represent the depth of talent in the Valley's law enforcement community and the seriousness with which local departments approach their investigative responsibilities.
For residents of Bethlehem and the broader Lehigh Valley, Detective Emily Falko's story is a reminder that behind every solved case, every arrested predator, and every family that receives closure, there is a detective who put in the hours, followed the evidence, and refused to give up. That kind of quiet, relentless dedication is the definition of hometown heroism.
