b"Is that your Neighbor Wearing a Police Uniform ?A day in the double-life of the Maplewood Police Auxiliary BY DONNY LEVITLeft to right: Back row - Off. Craig Goldstein, Off. Daniele Tortoriello and Sgt. Dana Roberts. Second row - Capt. Joseph Yacenda, Sgt. Angela Baldassarre, Chief Joseph Kelly, Off. Shaun Chalk, Off. Edward Meade, Off. Fred-die Philpot and Off. Lewis Mahaffey. Front - Sgt. Kimberly Tortoriello and Sgt. John Ceglie. (Missing are Officers George Curtis, Benjamin Ero and Gregory Petronzi. Those in the academy but not sworn in yet are Robert Keller, Samantha O'Connor and Kevin Angerville.)A s the throng of cars and com-are local residents trained by the police academyguess you could say that it takes a special breed of muter trains rumble back toand who serve as pivotal support for the Maplewoodunderstanding. Youre committed to the voluntary Maplewood at the end of anyPoliceDepartment.Theyperformalltheirdutiesrole, serving the township, and helping people.given workday, tired residentsstrictly on a voluntary basis and do not receive payCurtis explains that each auxiliary officer must hope to catch up with theirfor their service. complete police academy training as well as months families over dinner and windOh, and look carefully at their uniforms. Unlikeof firearms qualifications before beginning their ser-down from the daily chaos.the black uniforms of the Maplewood Police De- vice as an auxiliary officer. And this doesnt include However, a select few of your neighbors are pre- partment, the auxiliary wear a light blue shirt andhis full-time job. During the time of his academy paring for a different kind of evening routine. Theysport a yellow stripe down their pants. And theirtraining, he was the media director for Macys.button up their crisp uniforms, enter a squad car,patch, of course, reads Maplewood Auxiliary Police. Onceavolunteerofficiallyjoinstheauxiliary, and commence their second job of the day as mem- MaplewoodresidentandAuxiliaryOfficereach member is required to patrol two nights per bers of the Maplewood Police Auxiliary.George Curtis has been volunteering in this capac- month and one Sunday per month as well as being Auxiliary police officersperhaps youve heardity for six years. Some people have asked why Idon hand for special community events and emergen-other terms such as police reserves or reserve officersdo something like this and not get paid, he says. Icies. Neighbors may see you on patrol one day and 24/ matters magazine / spring 2019"