UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
JUN 2008
U.S. Coast Guard Small Boat Course for Local Law Enforcement
By Robert Daraio Flotilla 16-7, D5-NR
USCG Auxiliarist Larry Rice on PAPD Moose Boat PAPD Officers with USCG Auxiliarists
Bob Daraio recently had the opportunity to participate as an on-water training instructor for The Small Boat Handling Course For Law Enforcement that Sector New York runs for the Port Authority Police Department. Although he was only able to spend two days as an instructor last week, Bob says it is the most fun he's had in his entire time in the USCG Auxiliary.
The PAPD's 37', aluminum, twin diesel, jet drive Moose Boats are awesome ! They do 37 knots, turn and stop on a dime. See their website for the stats: http://www.mooseboats.com/wwb_m237.html
PAPD Moose Boats
There were five PAPD Officers in the on-water training. Bob Daraio, a member of FL16-07, D5N, and Larry Rice, FL13-11, D1SR, who retired from the NYPD and served 28 years in the USCG Reserves, were the instructors. The training was supervised by PAPD Marine Unit Sergeants Chris Bergman and Dan Francis.
Wayne Spivak, a member of FL13-11, D1SR, created the program and has been the Chief Instructor and Program Manager of the USCG Auxiliary Small Boat Course for Local Law Enforcement since its' inception in 2004. Wayne coordinates the program through the USCG Office of the Director, First District Southern Region.
The on-water training week consists of daily forays on vessels where piloting and navigation, as well as all other seamanship skills are taught.
In the PAPD vessel, a PAPD Sergeant serves as Coxswain, with two (2) Auxiliary instructors. The number of students is limited to up to eight (8) per vessel.
The training plan has each student, under the tutelage of the Coxswain, spend 45 minutes a day at the helm. This student, during the 45 minute time-period does one (1) docking and (1) un-docking maneuver. During this time, the other students, who were not operating as Lookout or Navigator, man lines and fenders or practice knots, reinforcing marlin spike and line handling skills.
During the other 30 minutes, they work on different aspects of the PQS.
Every 45 minutes the entire student body shifts positions. Over the course of this 5 day lesson plan, each student has approximately four hours of helm time, and will make at least 10 docking maneuvers.
The two days Bob spent assisting Larry were focused on marlin spike, line handling, and docking, while at the same time providing an area familiarization, the Officers discovering quickly that the PAPD area of operation looks very different from the water.
Ellis Island from the PAPD Patrol Boat PAPD Officers training, one pilots, one on watch.
The PAPD Officers were highly motivated and well prepared, having completed a 40 hour classroom program that combines BS&S with some special additional modules. Added to the course is an expanded navigation and chart work section, as well as Helicopter Operations.
USCG Auxiliarist Larry Rice and PAPD Officers Sgt. Dan Francis, PAPD and Bob Daraio, USCG AUX
At the end of the 40-hour on-water training the PAPD Marine Unit students will have completed almost the entire series of PQS tasks for both the USCG Auxiliary boat crew and coxswain programs, along with additional PAPD specific tasks.
PAPD Officers training
They had great weather both days, went from the boat dock at the LaGuardia Airport Marine Air Terminal down around New York Harbor, up the Hudson River to the Harlem River, (where they were able to practice good radio procedure in contacting the bridge operator on ch 13 to get the railroad bridge open) then back down the East River and home.
PAPD Officers training
They stopped at various places along the way to practice docking and line handling, did PIW drills, and in one case a HIW (hat in water) Drill.
Bob also took the opportunity to perform a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check (VSC) on the PAPD Moose Boat.
Bob said "It was great fun, the PAPD Officers and Larry taught me much more than I taught them. I look forward to doing this again next year and highly recommend this program to any instructors and qualified boat crew/coxswains."
Bob Daraio places a VSC sticker on the PAPD Patrol Boat following it's Vessel Safety Check
The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Police Department
The Port Authority Police Force was created in June 1928 when 40 men were selected to police the Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing (then known as the Arthur Kill Bridge).
As the Port Authority facilities increased in number, so did its police force. With the opening of the Holland Tunnel in 1927, the three Metropolitan Airports and Marine Terminal in the 1940's, the force rapidly grew. Today the Port Authority Police Force numbers over 1600.The Port Authority's three major airports, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International, and LaGuardia, handle over 110 million air passengers, over 1.3 million aircraft movements, and over 2.6 million tons of air cargo annually. Policing these aviation facilities involves a wide variety of duties.PAPD SGT Dan Francis
Police personnel cover screening points, respond to all aircraft incidents, and aid travelers from all parts of the world. Escorting and protecting visiting dignitaries is provided for on a daily basis. During the past year the PAPD Criminal Investigations Bureau has worked on computerized airline ticket fraud, and property and drug interdictions. They have seized over 10 million dollars of goods including 35 kilos of narcotics.The Port Authority Police are also responsible for fire fighting and crash emergency rescue at the three airports and for all other aircraft emergency incidents. Police personnel assigned to fire and rescue duty are highly trained in all phases of these functions including the operation of sophisticated and complex equipment, fire fighting vehicles and water rescue equipment.
Port Authority Marine Terminal facilities handle thousands of ships, over 14.5 million long tons of cargo per year. Police operations in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard and other federal agencies at Port Newark/Elizabeth, and the Brooklyn Piers include everything from traffic control to the prevention and investigation of cargo thefts.
At the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, the Bayonne, Goethals, and George Washington Bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing, the Port Authority Police Officers' duties are patrol, traffic control, hazardous cargo inspections, truck weigh and emergency services, as well as enforcement for violations of motor vehicle laws.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed volunteers who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for direct military and law enforcement. These men and women can be found performing a variety of missions - on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms, and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection patrols, Free Vessel Safety Checks, and boating safety public education.PAPD SGT Dan Francis Keeps Watch
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Over 29,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. Membership is open to US Citizens 17 years of age or older who must also pass a Personal Security Investigation.
USCG Auxiliarist Larry Rice Keeps Watch
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