Cranford Police Department 2011 Annual Report - Cranford.com

Auxiliary Police
Cranford Police Department Auxiliary Police
The history of the Cranford Auxiliary Police
dates back to 1917 shortly after the United
States declared war with Germany. During
this time, reports of domestic sabotage were
rampant and the need for additional
protection from within our own borders
became common place. Memorialized in the
Cranford Citizen were references made of
the Home Guard. This organization of
strictly men would be “detailed to patrol
duty under the tutelage of regular patrol
officers”. The Home Guard consisted of 16
men; citizens of Cranford whom were
trained weekly on Thursday nights. Although
the scope of the training was not specific,
archived information noted that Robert
Crane held the rank of Captain within the
organization.
After World War I, there is no documented
history of the Home Guard until 1941, when
the United States declared war on Japan
after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Evidence
of German U-boats spying on the Untied
States off the coast of New Jersey was
revealed and with the establishment of the
Local Defense Council, “dim outs” and “air
raid drills” were instituted. Cities and towns
established its own emergency policies in
accordance with the national and state
guidelines. The March 19, 1941 Cranford
Citizen and Chronicle reported the
formalization of the Civil Defense
Emergency Police under the direction of
Chief Lester Powell. This unit consisted of 96
members and required a three month
intensive training program. Once the
training was complete, the men were
presented with police shields, arm bands,
whistles and steel helmets. They were
responsible for ensuring that all lights were
extinguished during air raid drills.
The post World War II era promulgated the
nuclear age with the Cuban missile crisis,
Vietnam crisis and the stockpiling of atomic
weapons by Russia, thus, compelling the
Civil Emergency Police to continue to
function as a branch of the police. Upon
receipt of the sounding of the Red Air Raid
warning, members would respond to their
predetermined “Shelter Area” or “First Aid
Station” and provide the required services
for that station.
Eventually, as the threats of the world
suppressed, activities for the Cranford
Police Reserves were reduced to traffic duty
at local events Election Day polling duty,
natural disaster emergency response, child
searches, oil spills and other duties
wherever extra assistance was needed.
In 2010 the Cranford Auxiliary Police is a
service organization composed entirely of
volunteer members and operates under the
division of the Cranford Office of Emergency
Management. All members are required to
be at least 18 years of age, possess a high
school diploma or GED and complete a Basic
Auxiliary Police Course prior to performing
active duty with the Auxiliary. This training is
provided at the John H. Stamler Police
Academy annually. Their duties are designed
to augment those of sworn police personnel
and include directed foot and vehicle
patrols, traffic control, enforcement of laws
and regulations, apprehension of violators,
detaining of suspicious persons and
providing emergency services during times
of natural disasters and civil unrest.
Current membership of the Cranford
Auxiliary Police stands at 16 and the
members are:
Cranford Police Department—2011 Annual Report 28