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nanny. A domestic engineer / homemaker. A truck driver. A cab driver. An
auto mechanic. A real estate agent. A jeweler. A vice president of
marketing. A father and family man who works several jobs to build a
better life for his family. These represent only a few descriptions of
the 26 men and women who took the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor yesterday
evening, Thursday, April 30th, in stirring graduation ceremonies of
Auxiliary Officer Class 13 from the John H. Stamler Auxiliary Police
Academy, held in Baxel Hall on the Union County Vocational-Technical High
School campus.
From
mid-February through the end of April 2009, these civilian volunteers
received basic Auxiliary Officer training at the John H. Stamler Police
Academy, in cooperation with the Union County Office of Emergency
Management and Union County Police Chiefs Association.
Plainfield
Police Division’s Officer Russell Gottlick, the Lead Auxiliary
Instructor, said he likes the motto Class 13 selected for their t-shirts,
“Enter as many, leave as one.” He noted that in the eleven
weeks of training, the recruits learned how to be a team, to work
together and to support each other, and made sure that they all made it
through.
Cranford
Chief Eric Mason, who serves as the president of the Union County Police
Chiefs Association, emceed the ceremonies. He welcomed the
graduates’ family, friends and other law enforcement professionals,
and noted that an Auxiliary Police Officer is a civic-minded resident who
volunteers his or her time to the local police department. These officers
serve as the “eyes and ears” of the police department, and
provide police presence in the community. “The uniformed officer can
assist with directing traffic and conduct both foot and vehicle patrols,
as well as assist with special events, such as festivals, parades and
holiday activities,” he said. “They are also called to serve
the extremely important role of supporting regular police departments during
a state of emergency or other time of crisis,” he added. Although
the Auxiliary Police Officer volunteers his or her personal time, the
officer upholds the same personal and professional standards as any law
enforcement officer, and is bound by the same Oath of Honor taken by all
law enforcement officers that is administered upon their graduation.
First
Assistant Prosecutor Albert J. Cernadas congratulated the graduates,
noting that their volunteerism is extremely valuable for our community,
especially in this time of ever-decreasing budgets and manpower.
“The things you will be doing to help out with traffic or crowd
control are very important to support the efforts of law enforcement, and
we thank you for joining us to keep our communities safe.”
Assemblyman
Jon Bramnick (District 12), who serves on the state legislature’s
Public Safety Committee, was the keynote speaker. “Four concepts
come to mind when we speak about Auxiliary Officers: volunteerism,
camaraderie, connecting with the community, and bravery. In today’s
society, what better four concepts do we need to bring together? You
bring warmth and humility to the public as a representative of our
government, and we thank you for your courage, sincerity, volunteerism,
bravery, and your commitment to help each other,” he said.
One of
the most touching highlights of the evening was the special recognition
of Ben Laganga, who recently retired as the Director of Union
County’s Division of Emergency Management, a position he has held
since May 1990 when appointed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. A
hands-on leader in charge of a wide spectrum of responsibilities that
fall under the emergency management umbrella, including domestic
preparedness, hazardous materials, and fire investigation, Mr. Laganga
dedicated his professional and personal life to upgrading standards,
equipment, training, and community education, and was called to testify
before the United State Senate Committee on the Environment and Public
Works regarding “worst case scenarios” on the Internet
according to the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Plan. Auxiliary
Officer Tara Tilton, in presenting the award, said “Ben is a man of
honor and integrity, and has always chosen to do the right thing, even
when doing the right thing was a difficult choice.” Mr.
Laganga’s pleasant personality, visionary outlook, and decisive
problem-solving abilities helped him revamp Emergency Management in Union
County, and take it to its cutting-edge leadership position. One of his greatest
accomplishments was seeing, from start to finish, the addition of a high
tech Emergency Response communications command center that is supported
by a mobile unit, both of which are equipped with state-of-the-art
equipment.
Mr.
Laganga took over training of Auxiliary Recruits when he became OEM
Director. Immediately seeing ways to improve the training, he met with
the Union County Prosecutor and Union County Police Chiefs Association to
form a partnership to run the Academy. The first class trained under this
improved program graduated in December 1993. He dedicated himself to its
continuous improvement through each of the ensuing classes.
“We take off our hats tonight as we honor Ben Laganga, who has
looked always to our safety, and will always hold a special place in our
hearts,” Auxiliary Officer Tilton said.
Sgt.
Michael Small, with the New Jersey State Police’s Emergency
Management Section, which oversees all Auxiliary Officer training,
congratulated the graduates on behalf of Colonel Rick Fuentes for a job
well done. “You are placing yourselves on the front line with the
uniforms you wear, and the commitment of your own time and effort for
this training demonstrates your unselfish dedication to your community
and to making our state a safer place to live in,” he said.
Auxiliary
Officers from Cranford Police Department are Edward M. Bernier, Justin D.
Conklin, Gregory M. Federici, Ewa B. Jackson, and Michael R. Meistrell;
from Hillside Police Department, Shalom D. Hoffer and Alexander D. Munoz;
from Linden Police Department, Fernando M. Chipelo, Alexander G. De La
Cuesta, Bartlomiej J. Glab and Nelson L. Ventura; from New Providence
Police Department, Bryan C. Paul, who received the Award for Academic
Excellence; from Rahway Police Department, Robert P. Black, Judith A.
DiMaio, Shaun T. Hall, Michael D. Rivera, Ronald G. Saint Juste, Dion J.
Smith and Tara Tilton; from Springfield Police Department, David L. Root
and John Vesper, class president; from Summit Police Department, Augustis
K. Grimanis and John R. Rice, Jr.; from Union Police Department, Jeremiah
B. Bechtel, Steven Flagg and Rui (Roy) G. Sousa.
Summit
Chief Robert Lucid, Academy Superintendent, said the next Auxiliary
Officers Basic Training is slated to start in February 2010, at the John
H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. Anyone interested in
volunteering to become an Auxiliary Officer should contact the police
department in the community in which they live.
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