| Accession# |
VE5-2010 |
| Catalog date |
02/17/2010 |
| Collection |
OSHP Collections |
| Date of photo |
1942-2010 |
| Description |
In late 1941, Colonel Lynn Black and Captain George Mingle entertained thoughts of augmenting a dwindling Patrol force - with men being called into active military service - with an all-volunteer auxiliary force.
The American Legion seemed the logical choice to draw such a force. Most legionnaires were war veterans, men of good character, and anxious to serve their country, but would not be called into national service. With Capt. Mingle in charge, working closely with Ohio American Legion State Adjutant Joe Deutschle, an auxiliary force was assembled in short order.
The first official enrollment meeting took place in Franklin County on February 8, 1942. By April, 2,650 members were in training. Auxiliary officers were subjected to 40 hours of instruction in desk duty, patrol, disasters, and convoy movements. Ultimately, they were assigned to one of 362 mobilization points.
The formation of such a force came none too soon - in April 1942, the Division had 297 patrolmen, but a steady drain throughout the war decreased their numbers to 139 by 1945.
Traffic stops throughout the state to enforce travel restrictions, bridge protection, evacuation plans, blackout trials, military airport protection, fingerprinting of plant employees, and surveys were just a few of the tasks given to Patrol and Patrol Auxiliary men during this time.
Following World War II, the number of active Auxiliary members began to decrease. But as fears related to the Cold War began to rise, the need for a large compliment of Auxiliary Officers was obvious. By the early 1950s, the Auxiliary was again near its war-time peak of 5,000 men, and was prepared for any potential statewide emergency.
The Auxiliary was an important part of the Ohio Civil Defense plan. The five states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan later joined to form a Midwest Regional Disaster Preparedness Group - patterned after the Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary.
According to a 2002 Flying Wheel article by former Auxiliary Lt. Col. Thomas Charles, when the 40-hour work week became law in 1955, the Division began hiring civilian Dispatchers to enable sworn Officers to dedicate more time to enforcement duties. Through the efforts of Auxiliary Officer (and former Patrolman) Wayne Tresemer, many of the first civilian Dispatchers hired were Auxiliary Officers who had been dispatching as volunteers for many years.
A major reorganization and revitalization of the Auxiliary program came with the approval of new Auxiliary General Orders on April 10, 1991. This established district training sites; revised the selection process to resemble that of troopers; divided Auxiliary groups on a Patrol post level, rather than by county; and set a new retirement age at 65. Also, Auxiliary officers were no longer limited to American Legion members, and women could join the Auxiliary.
Today, the Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary is an all-volunteer force which provides assistance to troopers in the course of their duties. Among the duties of an Auxiliary officer are crash scene and traffic stop assistance, traffic control, disaster relief, and special detail support.
Auxiliary members contribute thousands of hours in an assortment of functions. Each is required to log a minimum of 120 hours per year to remain active. Membership is no longer limited to American Legionnaires.
|
| Year Range from |
1942 |
| Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
| Year range to |
2010 |
| Object ID |
VE5-2010-001 |
| Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
|
