Parma Police Auxiliary, Citizens Of The Month, Recruiting New Members

View Image Gallery

Congratulations to members of the Parma Police Auxiliary (flanked in photo by Dept. Chief Joe Manning, far left, and Chief of Police Joe Bobak, far right) for being chosen at Citizens of the Month. Their outstanding and tireless work on behalf of the Parma Police Department and the City of Parma make them an easy choice.

The Auxiliary is actively recruiting new members. With just 27 active officers, the Auxiliary has a goal of increasing to 50 officers, according to Commanding Officer George Balasko. Each applicant must go through training and pass a background check. Interested applicants can call 440-887-7300 x 7228 or email cityofparmaauxpolice.com.

Last year, Auxiliary members patrolled every street in the city on various assignments; two of those were making note of malfunctioning streetlights and missing street signs, and also issuing winter parking ban warnings. Auxiliary members direct traffic and provide street security during parades and are widely visible on Halloween as they patrol both on foot and in Auxiliary vehicles. Members can also be counted on in emergency situations and have responded to SWAT situations, guarded fire scenes, responded to downed wires in bad weather and assisted in flooded road circumstances.

In 2016, Auxiliary members donated 7,460 hours of their time. Auxiliary members will be on hand at Parma’s Safety Fair, helping to produce a digital ID card for kids. They also serve with a heart – partnering with the Parma Area Family Collaborative to buy 13 children Christmas presents, organizing the Parma Police Food Drive and delivering 6 shopping carts of food and $2,200 in cash to the Parma Hunger Center, and helping out at school open houses, PTA meetings, concerts, Sunday church details, sporting events, carnivals, and parades.