WANTED: Brave, smart police officers
Must be willing to work for free
By Sande Snead CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Auxiliary Police Lieutenant Eric Luther sets up his in-car computer before going on duty. The Chesterfield Auxiliary Police Unit is made up of 28 volunteer officers.

You've heard of a volunteer fire department, but have you heard of a volunteer police department? The Chesterfield Auxiliary Police Unit is just that - a group of dedicated volunteers who assist the Chesterfield Police Department in all aspects of their job.

"This is an amazing group of people," said Chesterfield Police Chief Captain Hal Moser. "They are certified as police officers and wear the badge with full authority. They just don't get paid."

There are 28 auxiliary police officers in the unit now; the department is authorized for 50, and Moser would like to see the unit at full strength.

"They help the department in a variety of areas," Moser said. "They ride during normal patrols, they provide backup, they help in times of natural disaster or civic unrest, they help us search for missing children and they help with funerals, parades and traffic accidents. They also transport prisoners on weekends."

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Auxiliary Police Lieutenant Eric Luther assists a paid officer during a traffic stop.

To join the unit, applicants must pass a full background check, including a polygraph test and psychological evaluation.

Training includes 480 hours of instruction in firearms, defense tactics, first aid, CPR, laws of arrest, hazardous materials and other topics.

"Once approved, they must complete the Department of Criminal Justice Servicesapproved Basic Auxiliary Police Academy, which is eight weeks of field training," said Auxiliary Captain Perry W. Hornbarger.

Upon graduation, members are sworn in and have full arrest powers, which they regularly use in the performance of their duties. They also have their own car so they can respond to emergencies and other calls.

"It takes about two years from the time they apply to join the unit until they are through the screening process and trained and ready to perform their duties," Moser said. "They have to pass all of the tests mandated by the state of Virginia that meets the minimum requirements for police officers. And they still have to keep their training up to date and do 40 hours of in-service training every two years."

Members of the auxiliary unit are required to log at least 250 hours a year. In 2006, members logged a total of 11,929 hours.

"These are unique and exceptional people," Moser said. "They have a heart for and a love of serving their community."

Auxiliary police officers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are retired police officers or retirees from other professions, and some are former military members, but mostly their backgrounds run the gamut.

The average age of the membership is just over 54 years old and the average tenure is 17 years with the unit. One auxiliary team member is a regular member of the police department's Hostage Negotiations Team. Hornbarger is part of the Mobile Command Center Response Team.

"While out on patrol, we try to be an assist officer," Hornbarger said. "Our job is not to replace the officers on the street but to assist in their duties and be an additional resource."

The Chesterfield Auxiliary Police Unit began in 1956 as a unit of the Federal Civil Defense Program. The unit as it is known today began in 1967 when the police department started the Special Police Unit. In September 2004, the unit was changed from a Special Police Unit to an Auxiliary Police Unit.