Love Island USA's Sean Reifel Addresses Mayor's Criticism Over Departure From Police Force

Sean Reifel is setting the record straight following public comments from his Pennsylvania town's mayor regarding his exit from the police force to compete on Love Island USA.

The 29-year-old islander, who became the first contestant eliminated in season eight, had worked as an officer in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania before heading to Fiji for the Peacock dating competition. His departure prompted Bethlehem's Mayor J William Reynolds to voice disapproval of the move.

"Our police department spent a lot of time training," Reynolds told local outlet WHTM. "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 further stated: "I never thought I'd see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer." He subsequently told TMZ that Reifel could return to the department, though he would need to restart the hiring process from the beginning.

During the first episode of Aftersun, Reifel addressed the mayor's remarks after learning what had been said. "I guess he's upset. That's interesting," he shared. "I definitely had a sit down with my job and told them exactly where I was going and what was happening, and they asked me to put in for unpaid leave."

He reflected on the timing of the criticism, noting that the department had recently recognized his work. "It does bother me because they just, before I left, gave me awards for like, with my partners, taking a lady out of a building on fire and talking someone off a roof that was mentally ill," Reifel explained. "So, it's like to give me those and then do something like this? I just don't understand."

Reifel emphasized his respect for his colleagues while expressing confusion over the public nature of the dispute. "I don't want to say anything bad about them. I know things can be taken out of context. Everyone in the department knew where I was going," he said. "I hope like, you know, my partners I worked with are like, you know, still appreciate all the stuff we have."

His family has since offered additional context. Reifel's mother countered the mayor's claims on social media, pointing out that the department's training investment was less substantial than suggested, as her son arrived with four years of prior experience as a sheriff's deputy in Northern California. She also clarified that while officials characterized his departure as a resignation, he had actually been denied the unpaid leave he had formally requested.