Training necessary for public safety
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Federal, state and local emergency personnel responded Sept. 11, 2001, and in the days that followed, working to save lives, recovering the bodies of those lost and trying to piece together what happened and how to prevent acts of terrorism, such as the tragedies that unfolded in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Penn., that fateful September morning 10 years ago.
That day forever changed the lives of millions, shattering the perception that such events only occurred in Third World nations, not here in America. The events of 9-11 raised an awareness that more needed to be done to protect citizens and all they hold dear. Since that day, emergency personnel have worked diligently to improve and enhance services, with much-needed Department of Homeland Security grants being used for training and equipment.
The effects have been far-reaching, with increased security measures now the norm for public safety officials here in Aroostook County and beyond. Departments have undergone numerous changes over the past 10 years, from equipment upgrades to added training of personnel.
Like so many who watched and listened to news reports, local law enforcement officers were affected and shared their recollections with the newspaper.
Devastating day
“I remember exactly what I was doing (when news began to air). I was sitting at my office desk in Presque Isle. I had WEEI sports radio out of Boston on and was listening to their banter when they were interrupted because a plane had just struck one of the towers. The first thought for them, and thus for me, was that it was a small commuter plane that accidentally struck the building,” said Troy Heald, of F.A. Peabody, who also serves as fire chief for the Washburn Fire Department.
A short time later Heald said more information became available confirming it was a much larger plane that had struck the first tower of the World Trade Center.
“When the broadcaster called a relative in New York, it came to light it was a commercial flight. Of course, the rest of the day was very somber as we huddled around a television in the office and watched the news coverage,” said Heald, noting, “it was a devastating day that will always be remembered.”
Since that day, the WFD has received funding for much-needed upgrades.
“As for federal monies, we in Washburn have received some of those monies since 9-11 and purchased new firefighter gear. We received $30,000. That helped us replace gear that, at the time was, on average, over 20 years old,” he said.
Changes have also been made requiring more training.
“New training requirements have come about following 9-11 — primarily in the way we communicate on the radio and with whom. Most communication radios now have to be interconnected with multiple emergency responders and municipal offices,” said Heald.
“Most all departments now have dedicated radios that have both local and regional frequencies as well as channels dedicated to state and national emergency responders,” continued Heald. “It (9-11) certainly changed things.”
This can’t be real
Bill Campbell, chief of the Fort Fairfield Police Department, was working at the Presque Isle Police Department in 2001 but was not on duty when he first heard the news.
“I was driving on Main Street in Presque Isle — had just gotten to the intersection at Walmart — when I heard the news on the radio.
My first thought was of ‘War of the Worlds’ and that it wasn’t real. It wasn’t until I went into Walmart that it sank in.
Everyone in the store was talking about it,” said Campbell. “It all seemed so surreal.”
Whole new level of concern
Dan Robertson, a detective with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, said the terrorist activities of 9-11 have directly impacted his department.
“I was at our Caribou office on my way out the door when the treasurer came in and told us about it. My job changed that day, especially being so close to an international border. A whole new level of concern was added,” said Robertson.
Prior to that September morning, Robertson said he’d given terrorism little thought, considering it something that happened far from home. That’s all changed.
“I had never given terrorism a second thought until Sept. 11, 2001. From that point on, it (terrorism) has always been on my mind,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office was among the many departments receiving funding to improve security.
“We did receive additional funding and training and have put it to good use,” said Robertson.
Taking training to highest level
Ed Christie, a game warden with the Maine Warden Service in Aroostook County, said border security has become a priority for his department, since so much of the Maine border with Canada is along unorganized, heavily wooded territory that falls under MWS jurisdiction.
“I was home finishing my paperwork and I had the news on. That evening, Warden Brad Richard and I decided to work in the Van Buren area. We attempted to stop an ATV that passed us — he took off. Within an hour, we arrested him and took him to jail. He was a Canadian citizen that had ridden the ATV across the bridge. He had no ID, the ATV was not registered and he was an habitual offender,” said Christie. “He left with Border Patrol.”
Christie said his department began receiving Homeland Security funds around 2006.
“It was not until 2006 or 2007 before we started receiving Homeland Security funds. Up to that point — and still — Maine game wardens continue to patrol the international border (with Canada) as we have done for the last 136 years,” said Christie.
He said there’s always plenty of work, despite tough economic times.
“With budget cuts and reduced manpower, we still have to detail wardens along the Quebec border from St. Pamphile down to Daaquam,” he said.
Grant money has been put to good use by the department, allowing for equipment upgrades.
“The Warden Service has been able to purchase a few snowmobiles and ATVs, along with other equipment, using Homeland Security funds,” Christie said.
Christie said training is the key to public safety.
“The training has progressed since I started full-time with the Warden Service 12 years ago. As a member of the Maine Warden Service Firearms Training Team, we have always taken our training to the highest level,” said Christie.
He acknowledged that training needs to be a priority from now on.
“With the change in society, training and education must progress rapidly to keep officers alive, so we can protect and keep safe the people of the state of Maine, as well as the citizens of the United States of America,” Christie said.
God had other plans for me
Sgt. Shawn Newell, of the Fort Fairfield Police Department, was working in Baileyville as a resource officer at the local high school on Sept. 11, 2001. He recalled the details of his day.
“I can explicitly remember where and what I was doing when (the events of) 9-11 happened. In 2001, I was working in Baileyville as a school resource officer. I was walking out of my office to attend my weekly administrative meeting with the superintendent and the chief of police. One of the retired teachers had come to the school and met me as I was walking out and asked if I was watching the news. He then began to explain that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center,” said Newell.
A bit bewildered, Newell questioned how that could occur.
“I think my remark at the time was to the effect, ‘how does a plane hit the World Trade Center?’ I then continued on my way out the door, since I was about to be late for my meeting,” he said.
Later at the police department the news finally sank in.
“A short time later, I was at the police station and one of the officers had the radio on and was listening to the news broadcast when they announced that a second jet had hit the second World Trade Center building. I distinctly remember everyone in the police department being still and silent, listening to the radio, as the hairs on the back of my neck began standing on end, because we all knew this was no longer an accident and that something — unknown at the time — was unraveling that wasn’t good,” Newell said.
It was then that he and the superintendent decided to return to the school.
“I looked at the superintendent and said, ‘Barry, we need to get down to the school.’ He replied, ‘I think that’s a great idea, Shawn.’ We cancelled the administrative meeting and met with the principal and assistant principal about what was taking place in the country,” he said.
Newell said the uncertainty of the event kept everyone on edge.
“As time progressed, we heard that a third and fourth plane had gone down. It was the uncertainty at the time of what was taking place and the fear of the unknown that worried us,” said Newell, adding, “granted, we were in a small community tucked away in eastern Maine, but if two planes had just hit the World Trade Center, another the Pentagon, and a fourth plane had crashed in Pennsylvania, who was next, we wondered.”
Newell’s had time to reflect on the events of that day and how God works in mysterious ways.
“I was supposed to fly out with the assistant principal on American Airlines, on a flight from Boston to San Diego, on Sept. 11, 2001. We were supposed to attend a training session for resource officers and school officials. But the trip was cancelled three weeks prior. It was rescheduled three weeks later in Memphis,” said Newell. “Thinking about it now, I guess God had other plans for me. If I’d been flying that day, who knows what might have happened to me.”