Crime & Safety

M'town Auxiliary Police Set to Graduate

A look at the seven graduates and their impending volunteer jobs

They call them auxiliary police. They act as peace officers, police officers and constables; and they are 100 percent volunteer.

In Middletown, the auxiliary police work under the direction of the Middletown Office of Emergency Management and spring into action as a “municipal civilian defense organization” when needed, according to state statute. They are subject to the police department's rules, regulations and disciplines.

They have the “power to enforce all laws made or to be made for the conservation of the peace, for the good of the government and protection of the citizens and inhabitants of this state.” In other words, they help keep the peace in emergencies and/or public disturbances or special community events that draw large crowds, such as parade. If need be, they can apprehend people who violate the law in those situations.

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When they’re needed to assist police officers, they can patrol streets, conduct preliminary police investigations, write reports, help with traffic control, issue citations, and other basic law enforcement function, according to Middletown Police Sgt. William Colangelo, who handles police training administration and programs in the township. Auxiliary police must also be trained. Recently, more of Middletown's auxiliary finest completed that training.

“This course started on March 5 and consisted of 167 hours of instruction in various areas, such as: traffic direction and control, crowd control, preservation of evidence, police investigation, ethics, first aid and many other areas,” Colangelo said. “After graduation, each officer will undergo training in the Middletown Police Auxiliary Field Training Program.” And graduation is quickly approaching.

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On Tuesday night, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Middlesex County Community College Theater, 2600 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, Middletown’s newest seven auxiliary officers will graduate from the Basic  Auxiliary Police Academy of Middlesex County, where the course is administered.

The graduates are:

Philip Paone

Paone is a resident of the Belford section of Middletown. He is employed at Domino’s Pizza, Keansburg and currently serves as a volunteer fireman (Port Monmouth) and has NAED Red Cross AED & CPR, Firefighter #1 certifications. He completed the Monmouth County Vocational Law Enforcement Program.

John Mania

Mania is a resident of the Fairview section of Middletown. He is employed by the township’s Department of Parks and Recreation He is a volunteer fireman who has NAED, Red Cross AED & CPR, ICS 100, 200 and NIMS 700 certifications. Mania is also a student at Brookdale Community College in the Lincroft section of the township.

Matthew Rabinowitz

Rabinowitz lives in the Lincroft section of Middletown and is employed by Pizza Maker/MJ’s Pizza Bar and Grill on Route 35 in the township. He is currently attending Brookdale Community College.

Matthew Douglas

Mr. Douglas is a resident of Middletown. He works for the Monmouth County Park System, headquartered in the Lincroft section of the township. Douglas is currently certified in Red Cross AED & CPR for professional rescuer and first aid certified. He has also been trained in blood-borne pathogens and epinephrine auto-injector use. He is a graduate of William Paterson College and Brookdale Community colleges.

Kaitlyn Robertson

Robertson is a resident of Middletown. She is a full time student at Fairleigh Dickinson College and is a Criminal Justice major.

John Svenda

Svenda is a Middletown resident who is employed as a sales manager at ARMtech, Newark. Mr. Svenda’s hobby is comedy. He has been CPR certified in the past and has memberships in American Legion Jersey Boys’ State, Middletown Elks Lodge #2179 and the Susan G. Koman “Race for a Cure.”

Catherine Simplot

Simplot is a Holmdel resident who is permitted to volunteer as an auxiliary police officer in Middletown, because her township does not have an Auxiliary Police Program. She is employed at TGIF, Hazlet and has been certified in EMT-B program through Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.

Sgt. William Colangelo provided the biographical and background information for this story.


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