Forks Township paid former Police Chief Michael Friel $72,000 to leave his job, according to a separation agreement obtained by lehighvalleylive.com via a right-to-know request.
The township supervisors approved the agreement Dec. 4, 2025. The agreement came about six months after Friel misplaced his loaded gun in a police station bathroom, according to a source with knowledge of the incident.
In an interview for a Dec. 19 news story, Friel denied any wrongdoing. He said someone is trying to smear him and the decision to leave his job was mutual between him and the township…