See attached screenshots re: Facebook thread

Location: 191 Bridge near Barrett Library

Vandalism. Just a heads up to people living near Spruce Cabin Rd, Henry Price, Cherry Lane, and other roads that are close. This evening 5/25 around midnight, I'm assuming, kids were throwing rocks at our windows. My husband turned the light on and they fled on foot. They also threw rocks at the car causing damage. I heard noises earlier in the evening but thought it was coming from inside the house. I'm assuming they were around the house checking it out not realizing someone was home. Police were called so reports could be filed.

Question:
Did we save money by switching from Barrett Township to Pocono Mountain Regional police?

Answer:
I'm going through the "Public Safety - Police" total expense lines for years available to me and here is what I have:

[Updated 1/7/21 to include 2020's budget]

2010: $552,000 (When Barrett had 6 officers)
2011: ?
2012: ?
2013: ? (+ $100,000*)
2014: ?
2015: $709,000 (The year that Barrett police disbanded. Had 5 officers)
2016: $520,000 (Regional)
2017: $520,000 (Regional)
2018: $578,000 (Regional)
2019: $551,000 (Regional)
2020: $575,048 (Regional)

via Barrett Township Supervisors:

ALERT: Please be aware that there have been numerous break-ins in the area lately.  Please be mindful of your surroundings and keep your home and vehicles locked.  Please report all incidents to the police.  The police need to gather information on all cases to best determine a pattern and find the person / persons responsible (for) the crimes.  

A Monroe County man is arrested on arson charges after fleeing from police.

Police started searching for the suspect yesterday after he set two vehicles on fire in Barrett Township.

The domestic incident led to a high speed chase today on Route 447 in Price Township.

We’re told police were actively looking for the suspect when they saw him getting into his mother’s vehicle this morning. When they approached, she took off. One of our videographers happened to be driving on the same road and got caught up in the pursuit.

News13 Videographer Alex Herrero says, "My heart was pounding and I was nervous, but I wanted to find out as a news person what was going on. 

Herrero is talking about the pursuit for 30-year-old Eric Funk of Cresco. Yesterday police were called to an apartment complex on Brookside Lane in Barrett Township. We’re told a witness observed Funk walk up to two vehicles, douse them with gasoline and light them ablaze.

Chief Chris Wagner of Pocono Mountain Regional Police says, "Further investigation revealed that one of the drivers of the vehicle had a past relationship with Funk and it seems to be some sort of retaliation because of the breaking off of that relationship."

One vehicle was put out by the witness but the other was fully engulfed and needed to be put out by the Barrett Township Fire Department. Police could not locate Funk yesterday but flied felony arson charges.

Wagner says, "Given the fact that he endangered people with lighting those vehicles. So when those vehicles were lit, they were within 10 feet of the apartment buildings and there were multiple occupants within those apartments."

Today's pursuit ensued through multiple jurisdictions. Herrero says the SUV flew up behind him on Wooddale Road in Price Township doing about 90 miles per hour.

Herrero says, "Cuts into the oncoming lane, it’s only a two lane road and he goes in front of me. Then in front of me there was a dump truck going around a narrow bridge, he actually passed that guy on the left going around that bridge, could’ve been a head on collision. I thought I was going to see an accident."

Police did lose sight of the vehicle but Stroud Area Regional Police were able to locate the vehicle near the Analomink Post Office. Funk attempted to flee and was apprehended, along with his mother, Lori Funk who was behind the wheel.

Wagner says, "Mr. Funk and his mother endangered various members of the public and we just as a community can not tolerate that."

Both Funk and his mother were taken to the Monroe County Jail and are awaiting arraignment on felony charges. 

Source

Due to the fact that all three banks in Mountainhome have been robbed since 2015, after the Barrett Police department disbanded, I wanted to share an idea that I heard:

The three banks should share the cost of an armed security guard. They would patrol the section of Route 390 where First Keystone, NBT, and ESSA are situated along a 0.8 mile stretch of road.

MOUNTAINHOME — Pocono Mountain Regional Police are searching for a bank robber. According to Police Chief Chris Wagner, the First Keystone Community Bank at 1154 Route 390 in Mountainhome was robbed just after 9 a.m. Thursday.

The suspect is described as a 6-foot tall, heavy set male, wearing a grey-hooded sweat suit. The suspect was wearing a mask and gloves and therefore his race was unknown at the time of this story.

According to Wagner, at the time of the incident the suspect entered the bank and accessed a teller drawer, removing bundled US currency. After removing the currency, he fled on foot across Route 390 and up toward Golf Drive.

Basic Crime Prevention

Practice crime safety measures that eliminate opportunities for criminals. Encourage others to join in crime prevention efforts. Aid others when they become victims of crime. Work for a better and safer neighborhood through protecting and honoring the rights of others.  

Important: The purpose of a community watch is to help the police do their jobs.  Do not be a vigilante.  

Disaster Preparedness & Resiliency

Learn skills to prepare for man-made and natural disasters. Local, state and the federal government do a lot to prepare for disasters, but neighbors need to be ready to care for each other.

Build a Stronger Community

In our fast-paced world, we don’t spend enough time learning about our neighbors.  Watch groups give community members a reason to get together and talk about making their community a better place.  Neighborhood Watch activities are a fun way for community members to get to know each other while making a difference.

Fellow Barrett Resident,

In July 2015, the Barrett Township Police Department merged with Pocono Regional.  Since then, have been numerous “unofficial” (unreported) break-ins, vandalism, and thefts.  There have also been two bank robberies:

• In November 2015, the ESSA bank on Route 390 was robbed. (link)
• In January 2017, the NBT Bank on Route 390 was robbed. (link)

 I wanted to share some thoughts and ideas, suggestions and pointers, so that the next time one of our (three!) banks is held up, the citizens know what they can do: