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By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 06:54 p.m. EDT, Oct 28, 2009
STOW:A light breeze coupled with a chilling rain made Wednesday morning the perfect day to stay indoors.
Not the case for nearly 50 members of Guardians Against Sex Predators (G.A.S.P.), who braved the elements to earn valuable training at Silver Springs Campground.
The volunteers participated in a mock abduction to earn a spot on the Summit County Child Abduction Response Team (CART).
Nearly 25 local, state and federal law-enforcement and fire agencies participated in the event coordinated by the Akron Police Department's Bill Harding and Summit County sheriff's Inspector Bill Holland.
Organizers say the weather was perfect for Wednesday's event.
''When this stuff [child abduction] happens, the weather is usually as adverse as it can get — it's never sunny and 80,'' said Richfield Police Department Lt. Joe Davis, who coordinated the search and rescue part of the eight-phase operation.
''The volunteers all performed admirably. They integrated well [with police officers] and found evidence. They have had good training and put it to good use in the first practical exercise for Summit County CART.''
G.A.S.P. President Fran Doll said her volunteers were eager to help.
''We had field-search training a year ago,'' Doll said, ''but this is the first time we were called on an Amber alert.
''They conducted this exactly as they would if there were an actual child abduction. They had a victim and a predator. And even the FBI was involved.''
G.A.S.P. volunteers played roles as Circle K employee, hotel clerk, mother and father of the victim, witnesses and telephone committee members. There were 35 G.A.S.P. volunteers on the search committee, along with 10 police and fire officials.
The fake Amber alert went out at 8:30 a.m.
''The sheriff's office called A Child Is Missing, which is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,'' Doll said, ''They had 1,000 phone calls out within the next minute.''
The volunteers and fire and police officials met and registered at the Stow Safety Center. They were divided into eight working units.
The search and rescue unit was taken to Silver Springs Campground at 10:50 a.m.
The Stow Police Department's canine unit recovered the victim within 10 minutes after the line search began.
The volunteers continued their search for evidence. They flagged a candy wrapper and tire tracks for the crime scene team to investigate.
''The level of commitment of the G.A.S.P. volunteers is unbelievable,'' Davis said. ''We'll have more of these kinds of exercises and continue to work to be perfect.
''But we're hoping that we're training for nothing. The best thing that could happen is that this kind of exercise is never needed. But the reality is that it's not that kind of world.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
STOW:A light breeze coupled with a chilling rain made Wednesday morning the perfect day to stay indoors.
Not the case for nearly 50 members of Guardians Against Sex Predators (G.A.S.P.), who braved the elements to earn valuable training at Silver Springs Campground.
The volunteers participated in a mock abduction to earn a spot on the Summit County Child Abduction Response Team (CART).
Nearly 25 local, state and federal law-enforcement and fire agencies participated in the event coordinated by the Akron Police Department's Bill Harding and Summit County sheriff's Inspector Bill Holland.
Organizers say the weather was perfect for Wednesday's event.
''When this stuff [child abduction] happens, the weather is usually as adverse as it can get — it's never sunny and 80,'' said Richfield Police Department Lt. Joe Davis, who coordinated the search and rescue part of the eight-phase operation.
''The volunteers all performed admirably. They integrated well [with police officers] and found evidence. They have had good training and put it to good use in the first practical exercise for Summit County CART.''
G.A.S.P. President Fran Doll said her volunteers were eager to help.
''We had field-search training a year ago,'' Doll said, ''but this is the first time we were called on an Amber alert.
''They conducted this exactly as they would if there were an actual child abduction. They had a victim and a predator. And even the FBI was involved.''
G.A.S.P. volunteers played roles as Circle K employee, hotel clerk, mother and father of the victim, witnesses and telephone committee members. There were 35 G.A.S.P. volunteers on the search committee, along with 10 police and fire officials.
The fake Amber alert went out at 8:30 a.m.
''The sheriff's office called A Child Is Missing, which is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,'' Doll said, ''They had 1,000 phone calls out within the next minute.''
The volunteers and fire and police officials met and registered at the Stow Safety Center. They were divided into eight working units.
The search and rescue unit was taken to Silver Springs Campground at 10:50 a.m.
The Stow Police Department's canine unit recovered the victim within 10 minutes after the line search began.
The volunteers continued their search for evidence. They flagged a candy wrapper and tire tracks for the crime scene team to investigate.
''The level of commitment of the G.A.S.P. volunteers is unbelievable,'' Davis said. ''We'll have more of these kinds of exercises and continue to work to be perfect.
''But we're hoping that we're training for nothing. The best thing that could happen is that this kind of exercise is never needed. But the reality is that it's not that kind of world.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 07:58 AM, 10/29/2009
thanks to all the volunteers - i just hope we never have to use you.
akron, oh
Posted 12:49 PM, 10/29/2009
This is a good idea!!! Being trained on how to perform if need be, is very important!!!!
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:04 AM, 10/30/2009
Knowing we have a CART unit composed of most of Summit County police & fire agencies is reassurring-Child predators/abductors are vermin! Let's hope they never need to be called out.
