In the pool. Photo by Don Magni.

This past July, Auxiliarists from D1-SR, with support and facilities provided by their active duty counter-parts, participated in a 10 day training session for the officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD). Auxiliary District 1-Southern Region (D1-SR) encompasses the area from Southern New Jersey to Connecticut, west to Vermont and the Great Lakes region of New York

The staff of the Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX), D1-SR, created the first of a series of courses, the “Small Boat Handling Course for Local Law Enforcement.” The course is the first of its kind in the New York metropolitan area.

The PAPD is the 24th largest police department in the nation. The police officers, who serve at one of the four airport commands, are also cross-trained in structural firefighting, emergency first aid and now small boat handling. Water surrounds both the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport Command and the LaGuardia Airport Command.

The first course took place at the JFK PAPD training center and in the waters of Jamaica Bay, the Narrows and the Atlantic Ocean. This course utilized the skills and experiences of over twenty-five members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as the men and women from CG Station New York. Members of Air Station Atlantic City also participated. JFK and LaGuardia airports have already scheduled subsequent courses.

The “Small Boat Handling Course” concept was born when Inspector Kenneth Honig, Commanding Officer of the JFK Command, PAPD approached a Coast Guard Auxiliarist. “We are seeking assistance in finding suitable trainers for our men in small boat handling,” he said.

The idea caught the attention of CDR John Felker, USCG, DIRAUX, D1-SR. CDR Felker enthusiastically embraced the concept. He assigned his Operations Training Officer, Chief Warrant Officer Mark Ferreira to assist the Auxiliary with the development of the appropriate course(s).

The Auxiliary tailored the “Small Boat Handling Course” to meet the needs of this unique police department and their unique mission. “The PAPD’s primary mission is to distribute life rafts at a scene of an aircraft landing that might occur in the waters around the airport. In case of an accidental waterborne landing, our boats are capable of distributing life rafts that can hold up to three hundred people,” said Mr. Honig.

In addition to their shallow draft vessels, the PAPD also have personal watercraft type boats and airboats. They use them in a manner similar to their use in the Florida Keys. They can navigate the large marsh areas that make up Jamaica Bay, the primary waters surrounding JFK Airport.

Under development for the PAPD and other local law enforcement units are “Cold Water Operations,” “Air Boat Operations,” and “Personal Watercraft Boat Operations.”