Ex-Bethlehem police officer Sean Reifel joins ‘Love Island USA’ season 8 cast

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Bethlehem police officer announced as a cast member for the next season of “Love Island USA” is no longer with the city’s police force, the department confirmed Friday.

Sean Reifel, 29, is among the 12 Islanders cast in the eighth season of Peacock’s reality dating series, which premieres Tuesday, June 2. Peacock announced the cast this week.

The department, responding to an inquiry Friday, did not say when Reifel left the force or why, and did not provide further detail. Peacock’s casting materials and the show’s teaser identify him as a police officer.

Reifel could not be reached for comment.

Reifel had been sworn into the Bethlehem Police Department on Aug. 18, 2025, as Officer No. 532, according to a department social media post. He lives in Easton, according to the cast listings, and is the father of a 2-year-old son.

Unlike many of his fellow contestants, Reifel is not a model or content creator. He leaned into that distinction in a teaser for the show.

“I’m not a model, I’m not an actor. I’m a police officer,” Reifel said in the teaser. “You could be having the worst day of your life and I’ll just help you sift through that.”

Away from the uniform, Reifel’s public Instagram account, @parm3_sean, leans heavily on fitness and workout posts, as well as photos from his travels with his young son.

“Love Island USA” follows a group of single contestants who live together in a villa, couple up and compete for a cash prize while facing eliminations and new arrivals. New episodes will stream daily except Wednesdays after the premiere, according to Peacock. Ariana Madix returns as host for her third season, and Iain Stirling serves as narrator.

The franchise has become a summer fixture for the streamer. The seventh season was Peacock’s most-watched original season, drawing 18.4 billion viewing minutes, according to the network.

Reifel is one of two contestants with Pennsylvania ties in the new cast. Sincere Rhea, a former Penn State track athlete who later competed at Miami and Texas Tech, was also named among the season’s first Islanders.

Beyond confirming Reifel is no longer on the force, the department has not commented publicly on his casting.

The eighth season streams exclusively on Peacock beginning June 2.