Milford Police Chief Matt McCormack brings experience and fresh ideas to the job

By Ginny Privitar
MILFORD — Matthew McCormack is back home, where he started his long career in law enforcement.
"It's kind of full circle," he said. "I didn't plan on it — it's just the way it happened."
He's now settled in the job, six months after the borough council unanimously appointed him chief of the Milford Borough Police Department. He took over from Don Quick, who served as acting chief from January to April.
"I want to bring small town mentality back to the police department," McCormack said.
In the past, he said, you'd see police only when there was trouble.
"I want to bring the department back to being community police — trying to make sure we're still a strong force here but still understanding that it’s a small town," he said. "People want to see us out in public, preventing crime and being proactive rather than reactive."
McCormack serves the borough 32 hours a week. He's also a full-time Student Resource Officer (SRO) with the Wallenpaupack Area School District and will continue in that role as well.
He started as a part-time officer in Milford Borough in 1992. After that he served with the Northeast Regional Police Department, and then with the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department in Matamoras. He went to work for Wallenpaupack School District after leaving Eastern Pike.
"I thought I'd have a part-time job and keep my feet in policing," he said. "Then Milford hired me part-time. I was working here a couple of months, and the chief position opened. I thought about it and threw my name in the hat and became chief."
Plans for the departmentMcCormack firmly believes a community police force can see more and do more. He said the department has totally revamped its training.
"Officers are offered and allowed all kinds of training now, and are not allowed out on the road until fully trained," he said.
Officers need special training for dealing with people who mental or emotional problems, he said.
"We have so many arsenals on our body, and some officers choose to go to some items they shouldn't," he said. "Now we have more training through state and private agencies, most of it free."
McCormack also enjoys being a school resource officer, which informs his work in community policing.
"In police work everything is black and white," he said. "But being a school resource officer requires a whole different personality. You learn to be a counselor and a friend to these guys because it's their first interaction with law enforcement and it has to be a positive one."
His work there certainly is varied.
"I work in elementary school, where I get to be a rock star every day," said McCormack. "I give high-fives and open Go-Gurts (yogurt tubes) every day."
He is assigned to the South Elementary School. In 2017 McCormack received the Regional Exceptional Service Award from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), which is presented for continuous and sustained service to the school community above and beyond that normally expected of a SRO or school staff member. He was one of 10 SROs nationwide chosen for the honor. He was presented with the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on July 25, 2017.
McCormack has coached lacrosse as well as football, ice hockey, and his daughter's cheerleading team. He's always been inclined to volunteer his time with youth. He and his wife, Kathryn, have a son, Finnegan, 16, and daughter, Carrigan, 12.
Besides having members of the department interact more with the community, McCormack wants the community to partner more with the police department and communicate their concerns.
"Tell us what we don't know," McCormack said. "We're not all-knowing."
A Community Safety Day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ann Street Park in the borough. There will be information on car, bicycle and financial safety with fun events, too. More than 30 different agencies will participate. Admission is free and food trucks, a bouncy house, and a dunk tank will be on site.