Crime & Safety

The Few. The Proud. The Unpaid Howard County Auxiliary Police

These volunteers assist the police department on the streets and in the office.

When a road is blocked because of an accident, you’ve seen them directing you to a detour.

If your car is stuck on the side of the road, maybe they’ve helped you out.

And if your stolen motorcycle was recovered, they may have brought it back to you.

Find out what's happening in Ellicott Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"And there's paperwork," said Auxiliary Officer Mike Heinmuller. "And paperwork ..."

The Few. The Proud. The Unpaid. The Howard County Auxiliary Police are a group of 23 civilian volunteers who assist the police department with dozens of tasks.

Find out what's happening in Ellicott Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wednesday they talked about their work with the Citizens Advisory Council, a group of residents who act as liaisons between their communities and the police department.

Since the program began in 1995, officers have worked a total of 134,880 hours–all unpaid, all in the service of Howard County.

People volunteer for different reasons–they’re young and may be considering a career in law enforcement; they’re middle aged and want to add something different to their routine; they’re retired and looking for something to do.

Some people, it seems, just want to help.

Heinmuller volunteered because that’s just what he does. “I’ve always volunteered doing something,” he said. When his son graduated from college a friend suggested he volunteer with the police.

His friend said it would be interesting. “Well, I like interesting,” Heinmuller said. “And it’s still interesting.”

The auxiliary officers are not police–they do not have the power of arrest. “We have the power of the radio,” Heinmuller said. “You’re not police, and if you think you’re police, you don’t want to be here.” 

But members of the auxiliary team are formally trained. They spend eight weekends in formal training and go through first responder training. They must be up to date on parking and other laws that come into play when they’re on the job.

“And once in a while, the police let us come to the training academy,” Peter Lucas, an auxiliary officer and soon-to-be mobile speed camera technician, said. 

“Peter also volunteers at the fire department because he just can’t get enough,” Heinmuller said of his modest coworker.

Lucas was injured on the job, losing a leg in a traffic incident, but he retunred to the beat, volunteering dutifully, and has even been of help to reporters while blocking the roadway as police investigate a fire. 

“If we can handle something that frees up an officer,” Lucas said, then it’s a job well done.

Heinmuller echoed the sentiment: “I live here," the Howard County resident said. He said he doesn't want a police officer directing traffic. 

"I want him patrolling the streets.”

More to know from the CAC meeting

  • Lock your doors. Police Chief William McMahon said 50 percent of burglaries in Howard County are committed without any force; through an open window or unlocked door.
  • If all goes according to plan, mobile speed cameras will go into effect Oct. 3. There will be a one-month grace period before police begin issuing tickets. 
  • Want to serve and protect? The police department has five sworn vacancies and 15 open positions in the police academy.
  • Robberies and burglaries are down 20 percent from this time last year. Although, "I don't like to harp on numbers," McMahon said, because if you've been a victim, those precentages probably aren't important to you. 


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