Terry Stader, KA8SCP writes:
As we have done for many years, [the Police Amateur Radio Team of Westford] will once again be providing a Pumpkin Patrol service to the Town of Westford. Many of you are veterans and others may be volunteering for the first time… which ever you are… thank you in advance for your help!
Pumpkin Patrol involves the use of Amateur Radio volunteers proving additional eyes and ears to the Town of Westford during the annual Trick or Treat event to observe and report any potential safety issues back to the PART Pumpkin Patrol Net Control Station which will be located at the Westford Police station. A report from one of our patrols will get handed off to the Westford PD Dispatcher and addressed by the Town’s public safety services. Our role is only to report what we see and provide input to our Town’s public safety officials.We normally require 5 – 8 radio operators that will patrol various geographical sections of town. Maps and a checklist of locations to watch will be provided when you check-in for your assignment. Check-in occurs at the Westford Police station where we record your call sign and your vehicle information. You do NOT need to be a resident of the Town of Westford to volunteer, but a basic familiarity to the town’s roads is a plus!
The normal time for Trick or Treaters is 6 PM until 8 PM. Our activities have been varied over the years, but we normally will run the operation from 5:30 PM until 10:00 – 11:00 PM. If the weather is lousy, the net closure time will be adjusted accordingly. We try and accommodate every individuals schedule… we have run with 2 shifts in the past… an early and a late shift. We will accept your offer to assist at any time throughout the course of the evening.
The plans are to use the PART 2 meter WB1GOF repeater on 146.955 (PL 74.4) for the entire event. So all a volunteer needs is a radio capable of operating on that frequency. A vehicle will help too… but if you don’t drive and want to ride shotgun with another ham, that can be accommodated as well.
Feel free to drop me a note with any questions and/or if you would like to volunteer. Pass this along to others who may be interested.
Terry M. Stader
MEMA Region 1 Communications/RACES Officer
President, The Police Amateur Radio Team of Westford, MA – WB1GOF
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