The Pocono Township Police Department was formed in 1970 with 1 police officer. Since that time just as our area has grown so has the police department. Employing 20 officers from the rank of Chief down to patrolman the police department has kept Pocono Township safe in times of personal hardships and township emergencies. 

On December 31, 2019 the most recent police contract expired and at this time the officers are working under their expired contract. During the last year the township and the officers have worked on negotiations but at this time, no negotiating is happening and the township commissioners are at a draw. Although a few of the commissioners support their police officers there are others that have decided to stop negotiating altogether and are pushing for the police contract to move to arbitration in June of 2020. Arbitration is expensive and can cost upwards of $40,000.00 to the township not to mention it is a morale killer for the policemen. The lack of a contract can cause young new hired officers to look elsewhere for a police position as well as discourages potential candidates looking to work for Pocono Township Police. 

This petition is a plea for the Pocono Township Commissioners to go back to the negotiating table with a goal to have a working contract by the end of March 2020. Commissioners please work with the police officers to finalize a new contract that will take them into 2023.