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Civilian police bring continuity, security to base

  • Published
  • By Erin Blauvelt
  • 87th Air Base Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Although they may blend in wearing BDUs, the newest additions to the 87th Security Forces Squadron are civilian police officers. 

In order to free up active-duty Airmen and add continuity to base force protection, Security Forces here are hiring 23 civilian police officers by December. 

"The 23 civilians will be divided between three positions: one assistant operations officer, five supervisors and 17 patrolmen," said Senior Master Sgt. James Warrick, 87th SFS Operations Superintendent. 

"The civilians are being hired in order to free up active-duty Airmen for deployment, "said Sergeant Warrick. "Of the approximate 200 Security Forces troops stationed at McGuire, at any given time 50 to 90 are deployed," he said. 

"Security Forces have one of the highest deployment rates, not just at McGuire, but across the career field," added Sergeant Warrick. "Most bases are now hiring between 20 and 30 civilian Security Forces." 

The police officers will be trained on security forces procedures through the Veteran's Affairs Law Enforcement Training Course in Little Rock, Ark., and will receive mission-specific training at their home station with the unit's training section Sergeant Warrick explained. They will learn the jurisdictional policing strategies and procedures. 

The hiring process is being supervised by Master Sgt. Jerry Fenush, 87th SFS Joint Base Integration Office. "The process is slow, but moving," he said. "Hopefully by December it will be complete." 

"We have a large applicant pool, but we have to be really selective," added Sergeant Warrick. "It's an intense interview process, with very thorough background checks." 

Currently, two civilians have been hired. One is currently in training, and the other, Brian Slovensky, who spent six years as a military policeman in the Marine Corps Reserve and three years as a Baltimore police officer, started on June 8. 

"I guess as the first one, I'm sort of feeling it out," Officer Slovensky said. "So far it's been wonderful." 

Those involved in the program are confident it will be a great benefit to the Air Force. "It's a brand new program," said Sergeant Fenush. "It's gonna do well for us."