Auxiliary Police

Joseph Williams, who volunteered thousands of hours as an auxiliary police officer in Baltimore County, died Monday of a pulmonary embolism at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He was 45 and lived in Baltimore. Mr. Williams began as an auxiliary officer in 1986 and quickly became a valuable part of the department, police officials said. He volunteered more than 1,000 hours a year for six years between 1986 and last year, writing parking citations, helping remove abandoned vehicles from county streets and occasionally helping apprehend suspects.

Everybody in the Howard County Police Department seems to know Herb Michael. The nearly two dozen fellow volunteer officers who serve alongside him call Michael "The General. " Police Chief William J. McMahon met Michael long before he trained and supervised the former State Farm insurance agent. They all treat Michael with respect bordering on reverence, and for good reason. Since retiring after a 40-year business career at age 67, Michael has worked more than 25,000 hours for the department, typically beginning his shift around 4 a.m. "It's the way I've always been, even when I was in business.

A Howard County councilman is questioning whether the county has adequate insurance on its small auxiliary police force after a 21-year-old injured officer was left without coverage for the medical equipment he needed after leaving the hospital. The volunteer police officer and firefighter, Pieter Lucas, was directing traffic around a crash at U.S. 40 and Pebble Beach Drive on Nov. 23when a Chevrolet Blazer hit him, crushing his legs between two cars and leaving him crumpled under the SUV's engine.

Thomas H. Everett Jr., former owner of a Towson beauty supply company who accumulated thousands of volunteer hours as a Baltimore County auxiliary police officer, died of heart failure June 26 at his Lutherville home. He was 78. Mr. Everett was born in Baltimore and raised in Hamilton. He was a 1948 graduate of City College, where as a member of the track team, he excelled in shot put and discus. In 1949, he joined the Maryland National Guard and served in the 104th Medical Battalion for nearly eight years.

Janice Haddock does a follow-up like few police officers. She doesn't call crime victims to ask the approximate value of their stolen tape collection of 1980s hits -- or to tell them where to recover their cars after they've been found on cinder blocks missing tires and a transmission. Haddock, the first female auxiliary officer in the Annapolis City police force, calls to talk about ways of preventing these personal nightmares from reoccurring. "Would you be interested in some information about car theft prevention?"

SYKESVILLE -- If it seemed the police force was bigger than usual at Sunday's music festival in Millard Cooper Park, that's because it was.Sunday's event was the first official activity for Police Chief Wallace Mitchell's volunteer auxiliary police unit, so far composed of eight area men and a chaplain, the Rev. Roland "Bud" Brown of St. Paul's United Methodist Church.Decked out in blue uniforms and police auxiliary badges, the officers directed traffic and walked the park watching for signs of trouble and maybe a sneaky drinker.

The public sees them when they direct traffic at big ball games, when they halt parades so cars can pass and when they attend city festivals. But members of the city's all-volunteer auxiliary police unit say they used to do much more, including walking foot patrols with sworn officers. Many are now saying they do not get respect from the department and they are not being used effectively. "They want to be able to do things that they are trained to do," said Auxiliary Col. Richard M. Terry, head of the auxiliary unit.

No picnic for candidate Landers at Proven Team cookoutJody Landers was feeling rejected this week after the chilly rebuff he got from the Proven Democratic Team at its weekend picnic for precinct workers and their political friends.The 3rd District councilmen, who's running for the comptroller's job being vacated by the retiring Hyman Pressman, was getting distinctly unfriendly vibes when he arrived at Roy Staten's Shore on Miller's Island Road, where the old line East Baltimore organization held its annual cookout.

Except for the gold capital letters "AUXILIARY" across the top of their blue police caps, the six uniformed men and women standing in front of a boarded-up chicken shop in Cold Spring looked like any other Baltimore police officers. After receiving instructions from Sgt. Robert Gibson Jr. of the Police Department's Community Affairs Division, the six auxiliary officers -- all unpaid volunteers -- began patrolling during the recent National Night Out anti-crime observances, assuming some responsibilities usually handled by regular, full-time police.

Harford County Sheriff Joseph P. Meadows is forging ahead with his plan to get more deputies on patrol by using civilian volunteers to free deputies from clerical work, traffic control and other low-risk duties."

The Sun's article "City share of profit sharing is zero" (Aug. 10) presented an unbalanced picture of the role of profit sharing in Baltimore's economic development projects. It should be understood that: The city's basic economic judgment as to whether or not to support a proposed project (and to consider financial incentives) is not based on the possibility of profit sharing. The city's analysis of the value of a project is wholly based, as it should be, on the core issues of attracting and retaining jobs and solidifying and increasing the city's tax base.

The public sees them when they direct traffic at big ball games, when they halt parades so cars can pass and when they attend city festivals. But members of the city's all-volunteer auxiliary police unit say they used to do much more, including walking foot patrols with sworn officers. Many are now saying they do not get respect from the department and they are not being used effectively. "They want to be able to do things that they are trained to do," said Auxiliary Col. Richard M. Terry, head of the auxiliary unit.

"Look, it's General Herb!" said a landscaper as auxiliary officer Herb Michael Sr. nears the front door of the Howard County Northern District police station. Michael is heavily decorated, but he is no general. He is a volunteer. But he is no ordinary volunteer. During his 11 years as a volunteer auxiliary officer for the Howard County police, Michael has volunteered more than 20,000 hours and the 18 badges on his uniform show that his commitment does not go unnoticed. "They just like to give out these ribbons, I guess," Michael said with a smile.

A Howard County councilman is questioning whether the county has adequate insurance on its small auxiliary police force after a 21-year-old injured officer was left without coverage for the medical equipment he needed after leaving the hospital. The volunteer police officer and firefighter, Pieter Lucas, was directing traffic around a crash at U.S. 40 and Pebble Beach Drive on Nov. 23when a Chevrolet Blazer hit him, crushing his legs between two cars and leaving him crumpled under the SUV's engine.

Except for the gold capital letters "AUXILIARY" across the top of their blue police caps, the six uniformed men and women standing in front of a boarded-up chicken shop in Cold Spring looked like any other Baltimore police officers. After receiving instructions from Sgt. Robert Gibson Jr. of the Police Department's Community Affairs Division, the six auxiliary officers -- all unpaid volunteers -- began patrolling during the recent National Night Out anti-crime observances, assuming some responsibilities usually handled by regular, full-time police.

Robert Henry Brooks Jr. of Pikesville, a master electrician in a family business who spent many happy Saturday nights patrolling Howard County as an auxiliary police officer, was electrocuted Wednesday in Stanley, Va. He was 27. Mr. Brooks had gone to the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains to work on outdoor signs at several businesses owned by his grandfather, Emmett Brooks. When the younger Mr. Brooks reached into one sign to change a light bulb, his hand apparently grazed a live wire, said his mother, Susan Brooks.

Daniel Davis could have been a lawyer or a businessman backed by an Ivy League diploma. Instead, he chose police work.Davis, 53, retired as a lieutenant last month after 26 years with the Howard County police.A quarter-century ago, his choice of careers caused his friends' jaws to drop."A few people have questioned me over the years about my particular career choice after going to Cornell," Davis said. "But I decided to throw my lot with the local police."Colleagues say his work ethic and high expectations resulted in key programs in the department, from a 1970s burglary-prevention project whose major initiatives are still in force today to the Auxiliary Police Force begun in 1995.

THEIR RANGE of expertise can be astounding.The Baltimore County police department has a female volunteer certified to operate an infrared system on an aircraft; she logs 450 hours a year in surveillance.In Anne Arundel County, auxiliary police members may help in conducting wiretaps or solving elaborate computer problems. The oldest volunteer, at age 84, still directs traffic.From Harford and Frederick counties to Baltimore City and beyond, hundreds of men and women have joined the civilian auxiliaries of their local law enforcement agencies.

In Baltimore County Public is invited to panel's hearing on elderly housing CATONSVILLE - A federal commission examining the housing needs of the elderly will hold a public hearing today at a Catonsville retirement community. The U.S. Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facilities Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century will conduct the hearing as part of an effort to assess programs and services nationwide. Members of the public are invited to address the commission after testimony from expert witnesses and remarks from Nancy Hooks, co-chairwoman of the commission, and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Baltimore.

Joseph Williams, who volunteered thousands of hours as an auxiliary police officer in Baltimore County, died Monday of a pulmonary embolism at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He was 45 and lived in Baltimore. Mr. Williams began as an auxiliary officer in 1986 and quickly became a valuable part of the department, police officials said. He volunteered more than 1,000 hours a year for six years between 1986 and last year, writing parking citations, helping remove abandoned vehicles from county streets and occasionally helping apprehend suspects.