Auburn PD helps with security at presidential inauguration

The Auburn Police Department sent nine officers to assist with President Donald Trump’s inauguration, allowing them to assist when they lost the chance during the 2020 inauguration due to COVID-19 complications.

On Jan. 20, nine APD officers assisted the Secret Service, U.S. Marshal Service, and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department with securing the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, APD spokesperson Kolby Crossley said. APD officers were deputized by the U.S. Marshal Service for the time period leading up to and during the inauguration, Crossley said.

Crossley said the opportunity to assist with security at the inauguration came about when, about a year before the inauguration, a request was sent from the Washington, D.C., Metro Police Department to all law enforcement agencies in the country to assist with the inauguration. Although this was the first time APD had helped with security for an inauguration, Crossley said APD had the opportunity to assist during former President Joe Biden’s inauguration, though the COVID-19 pandemic created issues with sending over personnel.

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Crossley said he wanted to stress that the APD’s assistance with Trump’s inauguration is not an endorsement. He said the trip had been planned since last year, so APD officers were slated to assist with security regardless of who was elected.

Crossley said APD was reimbursed by the D.C. police department for travel, lodging, and pay, but he said APD paid for per diem. Crossley said officers were sent depending on seniority, along with lessening the burden on the patrol division.

“APD is happy to assist whenever they are needed. Whether it’s helping with presidential visits here in Auburn or flying to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration,” Crossley said. “It was also a good opportunity to see how agencies can plan and execute a large-scale event.”

The officers who assisted were Det. Jon Postawa, Sgt. Joshua Matt, Officer Ryan Bush, Cmdr. Shaun Feero, Officer Dillan Claire, Officer Patrick Douglas, Det. Derek Morse, Officer Joshua DeRoche, and Det. Douglas Faini.

Courtesy photo.

Courtesy photo.