Lieutenant Paul Balch Honored

(Left to Right: LT. Paul Balch, Chief F. Stahman, Capt. J.D. Miller)

The borough council Wednesday paid homage to retiring Glen Rock Auxiliary Police Lt. Paul Balch for serving 55 years in that organization. Balch received a citation during a ceremony which included a large contingent of the police department, including Chief Fred Stahman, Captain Jonathan Miller, approximately 15 officers and two officials from the Glen Rock Office of Emergency Management, which uses auxiliary police for certain functions.

Others on hand included retired police chief Neil Finn and a representative for Congressman Scott Garrett.

In addition to recognizing Balch's local volunteerism, borough officials thanked him for dedicating 70 years to serving his country and local law enforcement.

Balch joined the U.S. Army Air Corps — a forerunner of the Air Force — on Dec. 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor triggered America’s entrance into World War II. Upon returning home, the retired lieutenant also served the Massachusetts Auxiliary Police. In 1955, he moved to Glen Rock and started volunteering for the local organization.

"I just hope everyone heard that number," said Councilman Michael O'Hagan, public safety committee chairman. "Fifty-five years of service [in Glen Rock]. That's incredible."

The governing body read the citation — with each of the seven members reading parts of it, before all joined together to read the final passage.

"I'd like to thank you, once again, for your many years of service and for being part of an organization that saved the world," Mayor John van Keuren said. "Thank you very much for your time."

Miller, the department's second senior officer, recalled the privilege of knowing Balch his entire tenure.

"I've known him for many, many years," the captain told the audience, generating a few laughs when he said, "It was a pleasure working with you when I was young."

Stahman presented a replica of Balch's lieutenant's badge, citing the traditional ceremony for all retiring officers "as one of the biggest honors" they can receive.

"So Paul, congratulations to you and display that very proudly," Stahman said. "Thank you for your service."

Finn called Balch, joined at the ceremony by his wife, "one of the finest members of the borough's auxiliary police."

During Balch's long tenure, Finn recalled, the auxiliary officer usually asked only two simple questions relative to any assignment: "'Where do you need me?' 'What do you want done?' That's all we needed to hear."

"He would deliberately avoid using the word 'I,' whenever it was in reference to who was supposed to be in charge," Finn said. "It was always the word, 'we.'"

The modest Balch chose to offer only brief concluding remarks when the mayor invited him to address the audience.

"There's been … a lot of great times - both [with] regulars and auxiliary [officers] and also the fire department," he said. "Again, thank you very much for coming tonight."

Glen Rock Police Department Welcomes Four New Auxiliary Officers

       2008 Graduates of the Bergen County Auxiliary Police Academy                           

Left to Right: Sgt. Robert Wojtecki, A.P.O. Robert Boncore, A.P.O. Atalay Akat, Sr. A.P.O. Ryan Zakrzewski, A.P.O. Thomas Hursthouse, A.P.O. Christopher Schmitt, Chief Steven D. Cherry.

The Glen Rock Police Department would like to welcome four new auxiliary police officers.  They completed a eight week academy at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah where they were educated in assisting sworn officers in areas of traffic control, to C.P.R.  They join six other current members of the auxiliary police.

2003 Auxiliary Police Officers

Police Auxiliary Chief Honored

Left to Right: Aux. Chief James Winters, Chief Steven D. Cherry, PBA President P.O. Frank Riggio  

Glen Rock Auxiliary Police Chief James Winters has retired after 32 years of dedicated service to the Borough.  Also a former member of the Glen Rock Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Chief Winters joined the Auxiliary Police in 1975 and worked his way through the ranks to Chief, having succeeded the late John Greve.   

Numerous members of the regular police force, and auxiliary officers, joined the Mayor and Borough Council in honoring Chief Winters at the Council's public meeting on April 25^th 2007.  Chief Winters was presented a gift and a plaque, from the Borough and Glen Rock PBA Local # 110 honoring his three decades of selfless devotion to the residents of Glen Rock.

The members of the Glen Rock Police Department wish Jim the best in his retirement and his new home in North Carolina .  

History of the Glen Rock Auxiliary Police

The Auxiliary Police unit was formed in the 1940's under the Civil Defense operations as a means to assist the Police Department in times of war.  Its function was to provide the authorities with trained personnel that could direct the public to shelters and control traffic.

After the war, the roles and responsibilities have changed, however the basic functions of the Auxiliary Police are still the same. The Auxiliary's provide a valuable service to the regular Police Department by providing trained personnel to help control traffic and crowds at civic events and during natural disasters or storm related emergencies.

The Auxiliary Officers patrol the borough on scheduled nights to maintain a greater police presence in an effort to deter criminal activity and provide an increased sense of security. While on patrol, officer are assigned to numerous tasks such as performing security checks of businesses, as well as all borough properties including the schools and parks, in an effort to curb vandalism.  If an Auxiliary Officer discovers a situation that requires immediate attention, they are instructed to immediately notify a sworn officer so that the proper action can be taken.

In addition to regular patrol duties, one of the primary functions of today's Auxiliary Officer is to relieve the sworn officers from tasks that do not require their presence, but still need a trained officer to be present to assure the public's safety. The Auxiliary's are dispatched  frequently during storms that down large trees and power lines, or to motor vehicle accidents and house fires that necessitate roads be closed or detour be established. These officers may direct traffic or control an intersection when power has gone out and the traffic lights are not functioning.   The also assist the Borough by volunteering hours of their own time providing security or assist at pedestrian crossings for numerous public gatherings, such a fairs, football games and parades.

All Auxiliary Officers are required to complete a 54 hour training course at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, NJ., before being assigned to any duty. At this time, the Glen Rock Auxiliary Police is comprised of only 7 officers, due to the hiring of 10 of Glen Rocks' auxiliary officers to the Mesa, Arizona PD,  Hawthorne PD, Ridgewood PD, Tenafly PD, as well as 4 to the Glen Rock Police. 

*** Currently the Glen Rock Auxiliary Police are NOT looking for volunteers. ***