Baldwin is looking for a few good officers

Auxiliary police unit seeking volunteers for program

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Fliers promoting the Auxiliary Police Program can be seen throughout Baldwin and the Town of Hempstead. The Nassau County Police Department is looking for new participants for its program for people ranging in age from 18 to 60.

Baldwin’s Auxiliary Program, Unit 123, headquartered at the 1st Precinct on Merrick Road, is one of more than 30 community-based units in Nassau County that provide educational training programs for residents. “Auxiliary police are the eyes and ears of the Nassau County Police Department,” said Unit 123’s commanding officer, Inspector Kevin Kamen.

Participants are required to complete 38 sessions, spanning 150 hours, of basic training. The course, Kamen said, is led by certified instructors from the Nassau County Police Academy. Once volunteers have completed the training, they serve at public events around the county.

“They work very closely with public events like the Long Island Marathon, the Belmont Stakes, and they even manage the traffic at parades,” Kamen said.

Auxiliary officers are not authorized to carry firearms, but they can carry police batons as well as OC spray, a form of pepper spray. If they are interested in being considered for a higher rank, they must attend the police academy and take the supervisor’s course.

Baldwin has had the program at its precinct for 60 years, and Kamen, 59, has been involved for the past 41 years. He started out as a cadet at age 18 in October 1975, and worked his way up through the ranks. Kamen, who received an award from the NCPD for 40 years of service in May, supervises the auxiliary program.

Nassau County Legislator Laura Curran, who recently completed a similar program at the Civilian Police Academy in Mineola, stated that volunteer officers are important for helping to maintain the overall health of a community. “Auxiliary police play a key role in helping the police do their jobs,” she said.

Curran completed a 14-week program in June, getting hands-on experience in what police officers go through during their training sessions along with simulations of real-life situations. She explained that Baldwin’s auxiliary program can also provide useful tools for residents.

“This is a great way to get involved in helping your community and keeping it safe,” she said. “The tools you learn will be invaluable.”

Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney has also urged residents to join the program, citing the need for better relations between the police and citizens. “The Auxiliary Police in Baldwin provide a critically needed service to the community,” King Sweeney said. “Against the backdrop of attacks on police officers around the country and the irresponsible anti-police rhetoric in the media, it is essential to support those men and women who volunteer their time to keep us safe. We must stand behind our men and women in blue.”

The most fulfilling part of Baldwin’s program, Kamen said, is that it “provides cost-effective security for people in the community.” He also said that being appreciated for their dedication is another reason volunteers want to be a part of the program.

Correction 7/28

In a previous version of this article the First Precinct was incorrectly located on Grand Avenue and not Merrick Road. The story has been updated to reflect that correction.