| Author |
Message |
    
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2402
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 9:11 am: |     |
Earlier this week, I was shocked to learn that there are NO police auxiliary in the MPD. It seems that no one in town is willing to volunteer even a small portion of their time to perform this valuable service to the community.
Where are all the out-of-work residents looking to add something meaningful to their resumes?
Why haven't those who have expressed the desire to do volunteer work in our community explored this as a possible positive use of their time?
Why hasn't the Town teamed up with the High School to get 18 year old students to volunteer their time for academic credit? (An advanced placement police science or criminal justice course perhaps.)
Why hasn't the town looked into a partnership arrangement with a local college which offers police science and/or criminal justice courses and may be looking for field placements for their students to augment the classroom training?
In the meantime, this complete lack of auxiliary police represents a severe limitation on the number of trained citizens who can be called upon to help out in case of a major emergency and represents a significant drain on our tax dollars.
There are plenty of things which an active police auxiliary can do to aid the community.
How can we attract auxiliary officers to our town?
What would it take to get you or someone you know to volunteer to do this job? |
J Kelly
Citizen
Username: Mprchief
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 10:20 am: | |
I never post on this board, but I read it every day, so I must correct the above posting. I am the Chief of the Maplewood Police Auxiliary unit and we have (11) active members, of which (3) are on duty this Sunday directing traffic at our churches in the freezing cold. The members range in experience from (2) years to (32) years with (2) female officers. The reason that we go unnoticed is that no one knows the difference in the uniform or equipment that we wear, but we are out for emergences, night patrol, and Sundays. Years ago when I joined the unit, there were almost (40) active members, but I guess to the changing times, no one has any time left to give back to their community.
To join our unit, you must either live in Maplewood, or within (5) miles, with no active Auxiliary program in your town. South Orange and Millburn qualify for this. We have a web page (www.maplewoodonline.com/police) and our phone number is 973-762-3400 (ex #437) for any further information.
To Joan, we would be glad to have you volunteer with us.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2403
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 12:06 pm: | |
JKelly:
Thank you so much for the correction and the information link and phone number. I'm glad to see that we still have an auxiliary police force in town.
I hope people reading your post will consider devoting time to this worthy cause.
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thelight
Citizen
Username: Thelight
Post Number: 123
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 4:15 pm: | |
After reading the previous posts I must interject! I really don't think that Maplewood Township will have much if any luck in the hiring of ANY Police Reserves, much less any Police Officers to work in Town. Unfortunately over the last few years. 30 full-time Police Officers have decided to leave the Maplewood Police Dept. for greener pastures! It seems that a level of total missmanagement and the lack of a competant Police Chief has hamstrung the Police Dept. As it stands now, we (The Police), have been working without a contract, a raise, promotions and competant Leadership for a long, long time. I think that if a settlement is ever reached between the Township/management and the Town's Police Officers, we may then be able to address the issue of a failing within the Police Reserves to field any new hires.
Thank You,
The Light. |
jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 328
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 4:23 pm: | |
thelight, were you the one who said that the township would not build a police station because of some yet uncovered issue that was going to torpedo the whole deal? Do you still believe that to be the case? |
Boozy the Clown
Citizen
Username: Boozy
Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 1:29 am: | |
why a have a paid police force when you can get one for free? with crime at an all time low, shouldn't the current auxiliary force be enough?
who needs a contract when a new building will solve all the problems?
i think elvis left the building in '79. sorry, that as '75. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2380
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 10:47 am: | |
J Kelly,
Thanks for your input, however, there’ something I don't understand about “The Light’s” response on this thread. Can you please clear up a few things for us?
First, what would the Maplewood Police Auxiliary have to do with the problems of the regular Police Department and their contract problems with the town?
Q. Who pays the expenses for the auxiliary police?
Q. Does the auxiliary police draw a pay?
Q. Who decides what they do, or where they go?
The reason for my involvement in this issue is the chronic traffic tie-ups on the stretch of Maplewood Avenue, and in the parking lot, in front of the train station. I know without a doubt that a regular police presence, where I suggested, would bring relief to the problem. The services of your organization in conjunction with the regular police officer assigned to the village is what is needed.
Listen, if the town will allow you to, would you be willing to support the police coverage at this location? It would not only be a great service to the community, but I feel it would also go along way in attracting positive attention to your recruitment program. |
Marvin Gardens
Citizen
Username: Marvin_gardens
Post Number: 65
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 11:19 am: | |
What exactly to Auxiliary Police do? I've seen uniforms with the Auxiliary Police patch on them but I can't imagine that they can really command any authority since they don't carry guns and are not really police officers and I doubt the bad guys would give them much respect. I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging them because I'm not, I'm just trying to understand their purpose and if they can actually make a difference and be effective if they are just Joe Citizens in a not-real Police uniform. I mean, can they make arrests, write tickets or apprehend criminals or are they just an extra pair of eyes and ears that call the police when they see something?
_______________
Do Not Pass Go |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2383
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 12:01 pm: | |
Kelly? |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4510
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 12:38 pm: | |
I believe that in NJ the Reserve Officers are required to attend the police academy and are authorized to carry firearms while on duty. I think they have full arrest powers as well. I think that it is the amount of training required that keeps the number of applicants down.
It is a little different here than in NYC. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2384
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 3:46 pm: | |
"I think that it is the amount of training required that keeps the number of applicants down."
Good point Bob... I'm sure you're right.
I wonder about the crossing guard program. I doubt very much that that training is the same as the auxiliary police program. Listen, I bet there are also a number of older folks who would be interested in getting involved.
Listen, if they're directing traffic for children, I'm sure they can handle the traffic in front of Kings and the train station...No?
Hey, I'd be willing to blow a whistle once in a while at some of these drivers that keep blocking the traffic day after day...
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2406
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 5:07 pm: | |
Police Auxiliary members are unpaid volunteers. Not too many people in our town, taxes being what they are, are able to donate their services for the commitment of time and dediction required. Perhaps we could attract more auxiliary officers if some kind of incentive could be offered.
I doubt that police auxiliary officers would get involved in the more blatently dangerous aspects of police work. I could see them helping with crowd control, issuing parking tickets, controling traffic at crosswalks during peak times, giving presentations to school groups, etc.
Perhaps JKelly could give us more complete information on this.
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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1963
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 7:47 pm: | |
Can auxiliary officers issue tickets? I've always wanted to do that. I don't need a gun on my belt. I have an eye for violations that others wouldn't notice. Boy, people would really hate me.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2387
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 8:08 pm: | |
Tom, if Kelly would give us some more info on-line, I'd consider giving it a try if you do.
Hey, I'd be real good at finding violations. I think I would want to join up as a plain clothes aux-cop, like a private eye... |
CioBella
Citizen
Username: Ciobella
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 12:04 am: | |
I have seen the police auxiliaries that the town has. I have seen the 2 females officers they have stationed in the center on a Friday night when I pick my kids up at the movie theather. Does anyone know if there is an age limit to become a police auxiliary? |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2388
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 8:31 am: | |
You must be 18 years old, or older. I don't think it really matters all that much.
Isn’t it all about drivers needing to respect the authority placed in these officers to enforce the law? Hey, who cares? As long as someone is not too old to drive or blow the whistle...
It all comes down to, if they have the time and the courage to confront a few of these inconsiderate locals, who tie up the flow of traffic, who cares if they are 100 years old? |
J Kelly
Citizen
Username: Mprchief
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 3:09 pm: | |
To answer some questions that have been posted here. The Maplewood Police Auxiliary are a group of volunteers who where formed in the 1940’s (under the former civil defense program) who where trained to augment paid police forces in the event of domestic attack. Through the years the Auxiliaries have continued to augment the paid Police forces by handling routine duties such as traffic control, Township building inspections and court duty. Today the Auxiliary’s are placed under the Office of Emergency Management where they continue to serve the same purpose, train to augment paid Police forces in case of an emergency which would require more Police Officers than the Township has available. During training exercises and periods of emergency, Police Auxiliary Officers exercise police powers.
As far as membership: You must be 18 years old, and live in Maplewood, or within (5) miles with no Auxiliary program in between. The interviews and background checks are the same as for the paid Officers. There is a school at the Police Academy which is run only once a year, that lasts about 4 months, going two nights per week. After graduation you will train with a senior Officer (FTO) for about six months doing patrol, traffic, summons writing and the general duties that pertain to our S.O.P. We have training meetings once a month, and range qualifications two times per year, with all members current in C.P.R. Auxiliaries are required to ride two nights of patrol per month, and do one Sunday traffic detail per month. Also they must be available for 50% of all the emergencies that may arise.
As far as some of the other questions that have been asked here, the following: Yes we do carry a firearm, yes we carry pepper spray, yes we have the power of arrest, yes we write summonses, yes we drive a marked Police car, and we would appreciate anyone that reads this posting, and is interested in joining a professional group of dedicated men and women, please contact me at 973-762-3400 ex #437
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CioBella
Citizen
Username: Ciobella
Post Number: 24
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 10:37 pm: | |
JKelly thank you for this information. Now we know what the police auxiliary's are and I can see they are a big help to the town. Thanks for sharing. |
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