Jeune magique et intellig
2009-01-22, 06:29 PM
The Fredericton Police Force is looking for a few good men and women.
If you're a leader, community-minded and are interested in volunteering with the world of policing, then Sgt. Tim Durling would like to hear from you.
"The big drive this year is that we're looking for people with a diverse background," he says. "We are really searching for people from all walks of life."
Durling is the co-ordinator of the auxiliary police program, "a voluntary program that is made up of citizens from the community in the Greater Fredericton Area, who want to volunteer in the police environment."
The participants are sworn peace officers, explains Durling, and are trained to handle whatever they might have to deal with in their policing role.
"They wear a uniform the same as I do, other than they do not carry a firearm and their shoulder flashes designate them as auxiliary and their badges say auxiliary on them," he says.
The auxiliary police program began in Fredericton in 1984 with nine members. It has since grown to 16 members.
A variety of people are attracted to the program, says Durling.
"Some people come out of a general interest in policing and they want to help their community," he says.
"Other people come because they want to try it out and see if they are interested in a policing career and work for a few years as an auxiliary member."
A number of people have gone on to careers in the policing field after working as an auxiliary.
Durling was once an auxiliary member himself with the RCMP.
"I started back in 1983 and went into policing as a result of trying it out," he says.
There have been 72 members in the city's auxiliary police program to date, he says, "and over 3/4 of those members have gone into full-time service in public safety."
Others have been happy to stay with the program, enjoying the opportunity to keep the city safe.
The participants come from all walks of life, notes Durling - they're students, business owners, teachers and more.
Terry Parsons has been a member of the auxiliary police since 2003.
"As a kid, I always wanted to get into law enforcement," he says.
Life led him in a different direction, however. He eventually moved to Fredericton, met the woman who would become his wife and began working with Scholten's.
"Twenty-five years later, here it is," he says. "I just never took it the full step."
Parsons was quite involved in the community before applying to the auxiliary police, but on his first go, he says, he didn't get in.
"One of the reasons was because some people had more stuff under their belt than I did."
He took some courses, reapplied and was accepted.
"I'm on my sixth year and I average about 500 hours a year. The last three years, except for the year my brother passed away, I logged more hours than anybody else," he says.
His younger brother was in law enforcement in Maine. He had cancer and died in 2007.
Prior to that, Parsons had the opportunity to go on a number of ride alongs with him and share "war stories."
The auxiliary program is a good fit for him because he enjoys helping people.
While he loves policing, he isn't ready to take it to the next step, he says, "because I love my job too. After 25 years of doing the same job, we're all friends and family here."
He's excited to note that while he isn't heading to the academy anytime soon, his daughter is planning to.
"She's done Leo Hayes this year, ... she's going to go to STU this year and then she's off to Holland College," he says. "It's more important at this point in my life to make sure she gets what she wants."
Gena Clowater has been with the auxiliary program for a little over two years.
"I always had an interest in policing and law enforcement from a young age and this gives me the opportunity to try it without leaving my present career," she says.
The program has given her a chance to see if this is a field she might like to work in long term or if it is something she'd prefer to continue to do as a volunteer.
"I really like what I'm doing. At this point I'm a bit torn because I have a lot of years in with my present employer," she says. "I haven't made a decision one way or another yet."
What Clowater enjoys about auxiliary policing is having the ability to help people in her community.
"There is nothing better than being able to help someone out of a difficult or bad situation, or to console someone after an accident, all those things that can happen to someone," she says.
"The best part of it is being able to be there when people are in need and to be able to help them put one foot in front of the other and keep moving on in life."
If someone has an interest in policing, she'd encourage them to give the auxiliary police a try.
"It's a really good way to try this on as a career without having to leave your present job," she says. "And it's a great opportunity to help out in your community. I'd say it's the ultimate volunteer experience you can have in Fredericton."
Applications are accepted year round for the program, though the hiring process generally takes place once a year. Forms can be picked up at City Hall or through www.fredericton.ca.
To qualify, participants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, at least 19 years of age, have a Grade 12 education or equivalent, possess a valid first aid and CPR certificate and a valid driver's license (unrestricted). They must be able to pass a medical and physical examination to police force standards, have no criminal record or charges pending, have good character and habits and reside within 20 kilometres of the city.
If accepted, the applicant undergoes training in a variety of areas, including police note taking, evidentiary rules, report writing, radio etiquette, civil and criminal law, basic first aid, witness and court preparation, crime scene attendance (preservation and gathering evidence), traffic control, crime prevention, community relations, crisis intervention, firearms training, use of force training and more.
Auxiliary members must be accompanied by a regular member of the police department.
"They are required to work 10 hours a month," says Durling, though they can work more than that, "and participate in community events."
In 2008, he notes, auxiliary members dedicated over 3,000 hours to the program.
Auxiliary policing is just one of the volunteer programs available through the Fredericton Police Force. To learn more, visit www.fredericton.ca or contact Durling at the North Side Neighbourhood Action Team office.
If you're a leader, community-minded and are interested in volunteering with the world of policing, then Sgt. Tim Durling would like to hear from you.
"The big drive this year is that we're looking for people with a diverse background," he says. "We are really searching for people from all walks of life."
Durling is the co-ordinator of the auxiliary police program, "a voluntary program that is made up of citizens from the community in the Greater Fredericton Area, who want to volunteer in the police environment."
The participants are sworn peace officers, explains Durling, and are trained to handle whatever they might have to deal with in their policing role.
"They wear a uniform the same as I do, other than they do not carry a firearm and their shoulder flashes designate them as auxiliary and their badges say auxiliary on them," he says.
The auxiliary police program began in Fredericton in 1984 with nine members. It has since grown to 16 members.
A variety of people are attracted to the program, says Durling.
"Some people come out of a general interest in policing and they want to help their community," he says.
"Other people come because they want to try it out and see if they are interested in a policing career and work for a few years as an auxiliary member."
A number of people have gone on to careers in the policing field after working as an auxiliary.
Durling was once an auxiliary member himself with the RCMP.
"I started back in 1983 and went into policing as a result of trying it out," he says.
There have been 72 members in the city's auxiliary police program to date, he says, "and over 3/4 of those members have gone into full-time service in public safety."
Others have been happy to stay with the program, enjoying the opportunity to keep the city safe.
The participants come from all walks of life, notes Durling - they're students, business owners, teachers and more.
Terry Parsons has been a member of the auxiliary police since 2003.
"As a kid, I always wanted to get into law enforcement," he says.
Life led him in a different direction, however. He eventually moved to Fredericton, met the woman who would become his wife and began working with Scholten's.
"Twenty-five years later, here it is," he says. "I just never took it the full step."
Parsons was quite involved in the community before applying to the auxiliary police, but on his first go, he says, he didn't get in.
"One of the reasons was because some people had more stuff under their belt than I did."
He took some courses, reapplied and was accepted.
"I'm on my sixth year and I average about 500 hours a year. The last three years, except for the year my brother passed away, I logged more hours than anybody else," he says.
His younger brother was in law enforcement in Maine. He had cancer and died in 2007.
Prior to that, Parsons had the opportunity to go on a number of ride alongs with him and share "war stories."
The auxiliary program is a good fit for him because he enjoys helping people.
While he loves policing, he isn't ready to take it to the next step, he says, "because I love my job too. After 25 years of doing the same job, we're all friends and family here."
He's excited to note that while he isn't heading to the academy anytime soon, his daughter is planning to.
"She's done Leo Hayes this year, ... she's going to go to STU this year and then she's off to Holland College," he says. "It's more important at this point in my life to make sure she gets what she wants."
Gena Clowater has been with the auxiliary program for a little over two years.
"I always had an interest in policing and law enforcement from a young age and this gives me the opportunity to try it without leaving my present career," she says.
The program has given her a chance to see if this is a field she might like to work in long term or if it is something she'd prefer to continue to do as a volunteer.
"I really like what I'm doing. At this point I'm a bit torn because I have a lot of years in with my present employer," she says. "I haven't made a decision one way or another yet."
What Clowater enjoys about auxiliary policing is having the ability to help people in her community.
"There is nothing better than being able to help someone out of a difficult or bad situation, or to console someone after an accident, all those things that can happen to someone," she says.
"The best part of it is being able to be there when people are in need and to be able to help them put one foot in front of the other and keep moving on in life."
If someone has an interest in policing, she'd encourage them to give the auxiliary police a try.
"It's a really good way to try this on as a career without having to leave your present job," she says. "And it's a great opportunity to help out in your community. I'd say it's the ultimate volunteer experience you can have in Fredericton."
Applications are accepted year round for the program, though the hiring process generally takes place once a year. Forms can be picked up at City Hall or through www.fredericton.ca.
To qualify, participants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, at least 19 years of age, have a Grade 12 education or equivalent, possess a valid first aid and CPR certificate and a valid driver's license (unrestricted). They must be able to pass a medical and physical examination to police force standards, have no criminal record or charges pending, have good character and habits and reside within 20 kilometres of the city.
If accepted, the applicant undergoes training in a variety of areas, including police note taking, evidentiary rules, report writing, radio etiquette, civil and criminal law, basic first aid, witness and court preparation, crime scene attendance (preservation and gathering evidence), traffic control, crime prevention, community relations, crisis intervention, firearms training, use of force training and more.
Auxiliary members must be accompanied by a regular member of the police department.
"They are required to work 10 hours a month," says Durling, though they can work more than that, "and participate in community events."
In 2008, he notes, auxiliary members dedicated over 3,000 hours to the program.
Auxiliary policing is just one of the volunteer programs available through the Fredericton Police Force. To learn more, visit www.fredericton.ca or contact Durling at the North Side Neighbourhood Action Team office.