Jessup Police Chief Derek Fozard submitted his letter of resignation to the borough this month, concluding more than three decades in law enforcement after just over a year as Jessup’s chief.
“I am fully retiring,” Fozard, 57, said. “I’m hanging up my gun belt.”
The police chief said he made the challenging decision to end his 34½-year law enforcement career while considering a new two-year contract offer from the borough, making the decision on New Year’s Eve to resign.
“I’m not afraid to say that I cried,” Fozard said, recalling his phone call with Borough Manager Coleen Watt to inform her of his choice. “It was a difficult decision, and I knew I was talking about ending … something I’ve done for more than half my life.”
Father Timothy Kennedy blesses the new Jessup Police vehicles as acting Sgt. Krawczyk and Chief Derek Fozard gesture the Sign of the Cross in the Jessup Police Department parking lot in Jessup Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Borough council accepted Fozard’s resignation during its Jan. 5 meeting and then voted to advertise for his replacement, setting a Jan. 29 deadline to apply. Fozard’s full-time service will end Jan. 31, though he will remain in place part time to oversee the department until the town hires a new chief.
Fozard earned $80,000 in 2025.
His replacement will be Jessup’s fourth police chief in just over two years. Former Police Chief Joseph Walsh entered into a $113,984 separation agreement with the borough in October 2023 after becoming Jessup’s chief in January 2013.
Longtime Jessup Police Officer and Sgt. Robert Berta came out of retirement to temporarily replace Walsh, serving until Dec. 31, 2024. Fozard officially began as chief on Dec. 1, 2024, leading a police force with seven full-time officers, including a working chief, and six part-timers.
In a phone interview Thursday, Fozard, who retired from the Pennsylvania State Police as a corporal in 2016 following a 25-year career, said he made the decision to resign due to personal reasons. While it was a joy seeing progress in the department and his vision moving forward, the commitment and time requirements were taxing, he said.
“It has an effect on your personal life and freedom,” Fozard said. “I always preached it to my guys here, one of the hardest things is finding that balance between personal life and professional life, and where to draw that line.”
He envisioned a longer tenure when he took the job, but it wore on him. Prior to becoming chief, Fozard had served as a part-time officer in Jessup since 2017, among other local law enforcement roles.
“I need to find balance — a better balance,” he said. “I should start enjoying some of my years instead of worrying about work so much.”
Fozard emphasized, “There was never any dissension or problem with working in the borough, or with borough council.”
“They were so good to me, and in so many different ways,” he continued. “They shared the vision. They supported the vision.”
Prior to starting in his new role, Fozard, told The Times-Tribune in November 2024 that he wanted to modernize the Police Department and attract more officers. Reflecting on the past year, Fozard said he saw a difference, pointing to improving officer morale and bolstering camaraderie amid modernization efforts.
In mid-December, his department rolled out a new Pathfinder Public Safety reporting system that will allow the Lackawanna County 911 Center’s computer-aided dispatch system to directly communicate with officers’ in-car tablets, transmitting information like the time, location, previous incidents at an address, and even if there are known firearms in a home. The same system also shares data with other police departments that use it — including the majority of Midvalley police departments — and it lets police create and analyze data to better inform staffing and patrols.
To facilitate that communication with the county 911 center, both Jessup and Lackawanna County recently signed a memorandum of understanding, Fozard said.
Other improvements over the last year included acquiring three new Ford Explorers upgraded with a police package, complete with new livery and updated logos; purchasing new handguns for officers; and budgeting money for new Tasers, Fozard said.
Council Vice President Curt Camoni commended Fozard for his work modernizing the department. The community embraced him as chief, Camoni said.
“The borough was unbelievably satisfied with the effort and progress he has made in his short time with us,” he said. “He really poured gas on the fire and modernized us at a very quick tempo in the computer systems we’re using and making us more efficient financially.”
Until Jessup selects a new chief, Fozard will continue running the department, though it won’t be in a full-time capacity. His work will still entail making any business decisions, correcting reports, scheduling and discipline if an issue arises with an officer.
He also offered to sit on the interview panel to help select the next chief.
Fozard wants to ensure his replacement has a personality that would work well in the borough, and that the next chief has the same community policing mindset. Serving as Jessup’s chief requires an open mind, patience and professionalism, he said.
Fozard thanked Jessup residents for support.
“I always felt their general kindness and respect,” he said.
The department is bright and moving up, with support from borough officials, Fozard said.
“I guess that makes some people say, ‘Well, then why are you leaving if it’s so good?’” Fozard said. “This is what made it hard, because I know it is good.”