Burnell elected to leadership position

Amanda Burnell was elected to lead the UPD Auxiliary Emergency Team on the Anchorage campus during the first business meeting and training session of the team for the academic year. Burnell, a financial aid technician for UAA, will hold the position for two years. As a lead, she serves as a liaison between the police department and the team membership.

The UPD Auxiliary Emergency Team (AET) is a group of about a dozen full-time employees who have received specialized training to assist the University Police Department in large events. Designed as a force-multiplier to help in directing evacuations, directing traffic, preserving scene perimeters and other tasks, the AET has been an asset on campus since 2007. The AET is a chapter of the U.S. Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) and most have completed a 20-hour block in citizen responder instruction. Members are on-call during the workday, and respond to major incidents when notified via digital pagers. The team has assisted in citywide disaster exercises, readiness demonstrations and annual building evacuation drills.

Burnell shares team leadership duties with Carolyn Hanthorn, who was elected to her 2-year post last year. Amanda joined the UPD Auxiliary in 2010. For more information about UPD, please visit their website.