Misawa uses town patrol program to help contain off-base incidents

[unhappycamper]

Staff Sgt. Derrick Santos and Staff Sgt. Michael Yurco of the 35th Security Forces Squadron patrol local bars outside Misawa Air Base, Japan, in September. Town patrol is conducted every Friday and Saturday night.


Misawa uses town patrol program to help contain off-base incidents
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Officials at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan say they’re reaping benefits from the 35th Fighter Wing commander’s town patrol program.

It’s conducted in the Misawa city area by various squadrons each Friday and Saturday night.

Master Sgt. Lance Guedry, the 35th Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of police services, said the patrols give base leaders a chance to carry out welfare checks of U.S. personnel and that they ensure good order and discipline outside the gates.

"It’s important to have command presence in the local community to remind airmen to be good ambassadors, but also to be sure our airmen are safe," Guedry said.

Each week, a different squadron is assigned to town patrol duty. Unit leaders and volunteers hit the downtown area with security forces.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59800