Believe it or not, there are still people in the area who are
willing to volunteer their time to help others, and believe it or
not – they sometimes work as many as 12 to 17 hours on each
assignment.

In addition to the work they perform, the Bradford City Special
Police have been labeled as invaluable, irreplaceable and assets to
the organizations they help.

There are 22 total; 17 active at this time.

Chief Lloyd Huntoon would prefer to have at least 25 to 30
members on staff, but said volunteerism seems to be down. He said
there are four applications in now that need to be processed with
background checks and voted on by current members. He said all a
person needs to be is 21 with no age limit above that.

“I advertise every other year,” said Huntoon, adding that he
would advertise more often, but needs to space the advertisements
out over time due to the costs of uniforms and equipment for each
person.

“I keep supplies and as they come in to work, I issue them out
and they are responsible for them,” added Huntoon. “It costs $1,200
to outfit one person. A radio costs more than $500; hats cost $65;
and badges cost $95.”

The special police rely on donations for their equipment.
Huntoon said they receive donations from groups that put on special
events, including the Bradford Area Creative and Performing Arts
Center, Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic, car show events and
activities like First Night Bradford.

But one donation they also appreciate are the ones they get from
people while they are on duty in cold, rainy, windy conditions.

Huntoon said when they were at the intersection of Interstate
Parkway and West Washington Streets during the power outage on
Monday, Parkview Supermarket personnel brought down coffee and
donuts for them.

Capt. Larry Smith nodded, “It was windy, the air was cold. It
rained and it hit every way possible.”

Both agreed that they would like to see a little more
appreciation while they are securing the scene at events and scenes
of fires or accidents. And they don’t mean the forces they are at
the scene to help.

“Some people want to continue through a scene and run over the
five-inch hose,” said Huntoon as an example.

Smith agreed, “They ask ‘why can’t I go over it?’ And I ask
‘want a $2,500 fine?’ People will sit there and argue with you
about it,” he added, shaking his head.

“I think the (Bradford City) fire department is just tickled to
death because they used to take a fireman from fighting a fire to
stay behind to watch the trucks. Now, a special police
representative is posted there,” said Huntoon.

Fire Chief Bill McCormack said they value the dedication these
volunteers have.

“They are irreplaceable for tracking traffic, they are dedicated
in what they do. They stand in the pouring rain and freezing
weather and sometimes 90-degree heat,” he said.

“They are great protection for us. We don’t have to worry about
people running over our hoses,” he added.

Huntoon said of the fire and police departments, “They are very
cooperative and appreciative in what we do for them. They know all
they have to do is call.”

Sandra Romanowski, superintendent of the Bradford Area School
District, said the special police are invaluable to the
district.

“They assist us with traffic safety and special events. They are
very easy to work with and they go out of their way to accommodate
our needs,” she said.

“They just really work their own lives around our schedules and
needs and I am grateful for that,” she added.

Members of the special police are not necessarily retired
volunteers either.

“We work around their jobs – whatever they can do,” said
Huntoon. “Last year, we put in 2,864 man hours.”

Huntoon said their oldest volunteer is 80-year-old Earl Bell and
he is the lieutenant that can be seen in the parking lot at
Northwest Savings Bank.

“He still comes out when we need him,” added Huntoon.

“Everybody puts out everything they can,” he said. “We get
called out on one thing and have ended up on three different things
in one night.”

Huntoon and Smith also described a day covering one event such
as the Big 30 festivities and parade.

“We cover from Elm Street to the high school,” said Huntoon
adding that the officials of the even treat them very well. “We
work the parade, get the cars parked and then the game starts and
ends and we direct traffic again.”

Smith adds, “It’s all day and night. From 7 a.m. to midnight.
And for the last couple of years without a “real” break.”

Bradford City Police Chief Roger Sager said they are priceless
to them as well.

“With very little notice, they can have people out helping to
direct traffic for power outages and when traffic signals are out,”
said Sager. “They were out this morning during the icy road
conditions in a matter of minutes.

“They have really done a good job over the years on a strictly
volunteer basis,” added Sager. “It’s impressive. They will come out
in the pouring rain – in windstorms like on Monday.

“They have the volunteer spirit. They are either people who have
jobs that allow them to participate, or they are folks that can be
contacted to respond a significant number of times and be available
night or day,” said Sager.

Smith said his employer, Georgia Pacific Corp., has let him go
and help the others when he is needed.

Smith said the driving force for him to be a special police
officer comes from his passion to do it.

“I’ve always done it. I have a passion to do it,” he said adding
that he has volunteered for different volunteer fire departments
including Rew, Hilltop, and Derrick City. Smith has been on the
force for 12 years.

Huntoon’s ambition shows in his work.

“I have been out at every scene except maybe two,” said Huntoon.
He has been fire chief for four and a half years and it’s been 27
years since he has been working on the force.