Popularity prompts citizen corps expansion

Nearly 80 people completed a citizens police academy earlier this year.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;By BOB JACKSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Last summer, Mahoning County officials put out a call for residents to help the homeland security effort by joining the county's citizen corps.
They've been pleased with the response and are looking forward to building on the grass-roots program.
Walter Duzzny, emergency management agency director, said he wasn't sure how people would react to the program when it was announced in June 2002.
The program was begun in response to President Bush's creation of the Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism among civilians to assist in the war against terrorism and in the event of natural disasters.
The local group is made up of volunteers in police service, a medical reserve unit and a terrorist information and prevention system. It is sponsored by county commissioners.
Desire to help
The movement came about in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. At the time, a wave of patriotism was washing over the country, and people wanted a way to get involved, Duzzny said.
With the passage of time, the patriotic fervor has mildly waned, but people still want to help, Duzzny said.
Classes will begin in August for people to be trained in how to respond if a disaster strikes their neighborhood. Nearly 70 people have signed up to take the classes, which will continue throughout the summer.
Earlier this year, nearly 80 people completed a citizens police academy that was offered by the sheriff's department. They studied firearm safety, emergency communication systems, community policing, self-defense and other related topics.
"They were a very enthusiastic group, and they remain very active," said Sheriff Randall Wellington. He said many who completed the academy have attended other training sessions offered at disaster services.
Wellington said he's had "great demand" for another academy and probably will offer one in the fall or winter.
Improving readiness
Duzzny said it's all part of teaching people who pitch in and help in the event of a serious emergency, taking some of the load off professional emergency crews.
"Someone once said that emergencies give us a choice; we can be afraid or we can be ready," Duzzny said. "These programs will help us be ready."
Anyone interested in signing up for the volunteer program can contact the emergency management agency.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;bjackson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;