Any time an event occurs in Morton, residents are guaranteed to find men and women clad in blue uniforms watching over the masses — the Morton Police Auxiliary.
This group plays an integral role in the daily happenings in Morton — some planned, others unexpected. Perhaps those who visited the Pumpkin Festival last week noticed these volunteer officers making their rounds on the festival grounds.
The Morton Police Auxiliary is, by far, one of the strongest auxiliary forces in the area. And, members’ presence at various Morton events helps keep the village safe at crucial times.
Their recognition at Monday night’s village board meeting for their part in making Morton a “StormReady” (See Page 1) community was more than deserved.
Year after year, auxiliary members are awarded presidential recognition for their combined thousands of hours of community service. And, often it is service that goes unrecognized by residents in the community.
Auxiliary officers make Morton a safe place to live, work and play. They provide additional security to the village, which, in turn, allows Morton police officers more flexibility to carry on their normal duties.
“I don’t have enough police officers on staff to do what we do without the auxiliary,” said Morton Police Chief Nick Graff.
Graff said auxiliary officers worked almost 300 hours during the Pumpkin Festival last week. In 2008, they volunteered almost 2,700 hours of work to the village.
“They are the reason we received the StormReady certification,” he added. “Every time we have severe weather come through, they are here as spotters no matter what time that may be.”
Often, as residents, we tend to look past these men and women who work to ensure the safety of us all. But, they certainly deserve a “thank you.”
Should an opportunity ever arise, take the time to offer gratitude to members of the Morton auxiliary.
