Report of the Auxiliary Police 2009
The Auxiliary Police report to the Director of Emergency Management for training and monthly meetings. The Southwick Chief of Police is the authority activating and assigning the Auxiliary Police for duty.
Members receive training in first aid, CPR, HAZ-MAT Awareness, weapons, range qualification, FBI Task Force orientation training through the Western Massachusetts Auxiliary Police Association, with the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Academy Reserve Police Officer’s Intermittent Training Course. Formal training is received from Federal Emergency Management and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agencies in National Incident Management System, Incident Command System, Emergency Operations Center, WMD Terrorism and Disaster Response, along with Emergency Radio Communications. Electric Power Utility Safety-Damage Assessment, National Weather Service SKYWARN Severe Weather Training are also included in the training program. Pipeline Emergency Response, Terrorism Awareness and hazardous material accidents were also included in this year’s training.
The Auxiliary Police assisted with traffic, crowd control, and parking during the Westfield Road Race, Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Road Race / Mummer’s Parade, the August 29th National MOTO-CROSS, a nine multi-community national twenty four hour disaster communications exercise, and the Southwick Firemen’s’ Fire Works display / Parade / Carnival. They assisted during the Powder Mill Middle School community outreach open house September 15th and 17th. Incident Command / staging training sessions and a security detail were conducted on the evenings of October 30th and 31st with Emergency Management members using the Mobile Communications Vehicle on the grounds of the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District. These training sessions provide a point of presence of Auxiliary Police to help reduce vandalism during Halloween time. Assistance was provided for H1N1 Swine Flu clinic on Nov. 23rd at Woodland Elementary School and for a fatal accident on Vining Hill Road Oct. 21st.
The Auxiliary Police hosted the quarterly meeting of the Western Mass. Auxiliary Police Assoc. on Nov. 4th with training received on local and national terrorism and accident response.
Members include:
Director Charles Dunlap
Spvr.: Assistant Director Keith Stromgren
Spvr.: Assistant Director Charles Housner
Officer: Peter F. Jakobowski Jr.
Officer: David Houle
The Auxiliary Police are ready to serve the Town of Southwick in any time of need. Anyone desiring more information should contact a member or call the Auxiliary Police Director at: 569-0308.
In closing, with the passing this year of retired Auxiliary Police Lt. and Assistant SEMA Director Bernard Keefe, I express our thanks and appreciation for the devotion and time Bernie contributed to the Southwick Auxiliary Police during the many years he was a member.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles H. Dunlap, Director