Eells named SAV commander

Wayne Eells has a lot to take on with his new position as commander of the Green Valley Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, and says he plans to make it “close to a full-time job.”

Eells, a four-year veteran of SAV, is essentially in charge of the operations of 112 men and women whose hard work and dedication to the community are part of what makes Green Valley as special as it is.

These volunteers assist deputies in many ways, from helping out with fingerprinting and administrative work, to patrolling the streets to protect our citizens and homes. Their visible presence in the community lets the bad guys know that this is a place where people truly care about their neighbors — and are serious about their protection.

Lt. Sandy Rosenthal, who heads up the Green Valley Sheriff’s substation, describes SAV as “retirees supporting other retirees,” and says Eells will do a good job at promoting that sentiment. He says he nominated Eells for commander following Bob Hoeckelberg’s retirement in January because of his focus on volunteerism, his level of involvement in the community, and his people skills, which Rosenthal hopes might bring more members into the organization.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik made the final decision, and swore-in Eells as commander in February.

But Eells is humble about the accolades.

“It’s a big deal,” he said. “But I was lucky enough to be the right person, in the right place, at the right time.”

Eells moved to Green Valley in 1999 with his wife Susan, who teaches fourth grade at Continental School.

A former manager with IBM, he pursued his love of flying after retirement and worked as a commercial pilot and flight instructor.

He was also involved with the National Ski Patrol, a cold-climate rescue organization, and was a founding member of Essex Rescue, a volunteer ambulance service in his hometown in Vermont.

During his involvement with SAV, he put in about 150 hours per month serving on the emergency response team, as a car commander and as a supervisor, which involves being on-call during a 14-hour night shift.

He says he plans on being an SAV commander for four or five years, and then hopes to dedicate most of his time to his children and young grandchildren in Montana.

But until then, while he’s away visiting his family, his new deputy commanders, Mike Herndon and John Packard, are prepared to hold down the fort.

Herndon is in charge of patrol units and field operations, while Packard will head up administrative duties, community service and volunteer training.

Eells says that with any volunteer organization, it’s the people that really make involvement worthwhile.

“Yeah, I like driving the patrol car and turning on the lights once in a while at a traffic accident, but mainly, what I really look forward to is working with the other volunteers.”

For more information about the Green Valley division of the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, call 351-6744 or visit www.gvsav.org.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726