Group of amateur radio operators helps out police at Dream Cruise

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — Maurice Davidson will be on guard during the Woodward Dream Cruise, ready in case of emergency.

The West Bloomfield resident is one of 35 amateur radio operators who will be stretched out between 10 Mile and 14 Mile roads along Woodward Avenue.

“We’ll have people at each (major) intersection seeing if anything goes awry,” Davidson said. “We are not policing, but we can be the eyes and ears for the police departments.”

Davidson is a member of the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps. People involved in amateur radio, also known as ham radio, use two-way radios to communicate to one another, often over very far distances. They are known for helping in emergency situations, or when the power is out.

Davidson has helped at the Dream Cruise for the past five years, and members of the group have been doing it since the cruise started in 1995.

“We have a lot of fun. There is a lot of camaraderie,” Davidson said. “You have the opportunity to meet people and see the classic cars go by.”

He said in addition to being on guard in case of emergency, the group has helped lost kids be reunited with their parents. He said if something does happen, the operator will relay information to a command center, where it will be passed along to the police agency in the area.

Lt. Corrigan O’Donohue, spokesperson for the Royal Oak Police Department, said the ham radio operators play an important role in backup communications during the cruise.

“Where they are critical is emergency situations,” O’Donohue said. “Fortunately, we haven’t had anything like that yet, but in the event of something serious happening, they are there.”

He said the department is very appreciative of the efforts of the all-volunteer group.

Davidson said in addition to working two shifts during the cruise itself on Aug. 16, a group from the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps will be at the Berkley CruiseFest Aug. 15 keeping an eye on the Classic Car Parade down 12 Mile Road.

For more information on the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps, visit www.arpsc.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110.