PAGE 12, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26,1987 Durham force unveils its mobile command vehicle By MIKE JOHNSTON The Durham Regional Police for- ce now has the best mobile com- mand vehicle in Canada, according to police officials. The force unveiled the $90,000 vehicle at a press conference last Friday. Acting as a command cen- tre in hostage and barricaded situations, the vehicle has been a high priority for the force, accor- ding to Durham Police Chief Jon Jenkins. "For six years this has been a necessity. Young officers on the front line are facing people with guns and that is increasing at an- alarming rate," he said. In the past, Durham police have been forced to use homes as com- mand centres, said Jenkins. "That has been a great incon- venience on homeowners, but they have been helpful," he noted. Jenkins said Durham regional council could never "find" the item in its annual budget, although it was needed. Sc the force looked for funding elsewhere and found it from two sources, Joint Emergen- cy anning program federal funds (adn !Cstered by the Province of Ontario) and the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station Impact Fund provided by Ontario Hydro. Inspector Bob Brown, who designed the vehicle, explained the power requirement is provided by a 6.5-kilowatt generator. The vehicle is equipped with a communications centre, capable of handling 35 telephones, and radios for Durham police fire departmen- ts, ambulances and other police forces. The 31-foot mobile home conver- ted command centre also has a con- ference centre in which decisions will be taped in case of inquiries af- ter the fact. A microwave, fridge, washroom, air-conditioning and a furnace are included and a com- puter will be installed in the future. Also included is a television and videotape recorder. Built in Durham Region by P.K. Welding and Fabricators, Jenkins said the vehicle can be used by am- bulance or fire departments if the need arises under Durham Regional Police supervision. Jenkins also said the vehicle may be loaned out to other police forces, some of which have already looked over the vehicle. SAVE 6.0 Seniors to be subject of survey Canvassing politicians will not be the only individuals knocking on doors in the Whitby area. Volunteers from the Whitby Seniors Centre will be interviewing a random sample of seniors bet- ween Augg: 31 and Sept. 29 to discover if seniors have adequate recreational opportunities and home support activities. The 'Program Needs Study' was funded through the assistance of a '$12,500 grant from the ministry of Community and Social Services. The study team consists of representatives from the Province, Town, various seniors organizations and representatives of the community. Some of the issues the committee will study are: -the need for multiple senior citizens' activity facilities or can seniors be integrated into existing public or private facilities; -the demand growth nas put on the existing seniors centre and Whitby Lawn Bowling Club. Since the two are adjacent both groups frequently run into space problems; -seniors who are unable to drive deprived of active recreational op- portunities. Those who will visit seniors will be properly identified by a letter from the parks and recreation department and an identification card. Any senior who is not interviewed and wishes to express their concern can do so at a public meeting to be held in the Whitby council cham- bers on Thursday, Oct. 1 beginning at 7 p.m. Rot arians preparefor exchange Whitby Rotary Club members are now preparing for an October visit by New Zealanders as part of the Rotary exchange program. Whitby Rotarian George Fit- zsimmons says tours of local points of interest will be part of an in- terested and diversified program being arranged. The exchange program was set up to improve international under- standing. More than 12,500 people from 150 countries have par- ticipated in Rotary International prograrns since they began in 1965. Team leader for the New Zealan- ders coming to Whitby Oct. 9-16 will be Des Jack of Hamilton, New Zealand. The team is made up of agricultural engineer David Abramson,. psychologist Gerald Monk, John Campbell of marine services, research scientisf Bruce Thorrold and bank manager Alan Riley.