Ishikawa police show appreciation for Camp Hansen Marines

Photo By Cpl. Joey Holeman | Maj. Andrew A. Merz holds a letter of appreciation from the Ishikawa Police Station in recognition of the ongoing relationship between Camp Hansen and the surrounding communities. Merz accepted the tokens of appreciation on behalf of Col. Stephen B. Lewallen, the commanding officer of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, and Camp Hansen commander. Merz is the Camp Hansen operations officer and a native of Langston, Mich.  

ISHIKAWA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.19.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Joey Holeman 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

ISHIKAWA, Japan - Officials representing the Ishikawa Police Station presented a letter of appreciation to Col. Stephen B. Lewallen, to recognize the continuously growing relationship between the community and Camp Hansen Feb. 20 at the Ishikawa Police Station.

Lewallen is the commanding officer of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, and Camp Hansen commander.

“The award was given for the support that Camp Hansen has provided the Ishikawa Police (Station) and the local community of Kin Town,” said James H. Hammond, the Camp Hansen antiterrorism officer.

During the award presentation, Ishikawa Police Chief Satoshi Yamada expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts being made to further extend and improve the relationship between the Kin Town community and Camp Hansen.

“In the last four months, we completed three new initiatives to work with Ishikawa police, Kin Town government (officials) and other Okinawa law enforcement agencies,” said Maj. Andrew A. Merz, the Camp Hansen operations officer, who accepted the award on behalf of Lewallen due to a schedule conflict.

The first initiative involved volunteers from Camp Hansen partnering with Ishikawa police by ensuring traffic safety during morning school hours.

“Every Friday, we provide crossing guards with Ishikawa police and parents for a local Kin Town kindergarten,” said Merz.

The second and third initiatives expand the relationship between the camp and community through the rehearsal of responses to potential crises that may arise.

“We started an antiterrorism-force protection exercise, which we will hold two times a year with Ishikawa police and other agencies,” said Merz. “The third initiative is disaster response relief that is there to partner with the community in an event that there is a natural disaster in the area.”

Camp Hansen is committed to continually work with the community to better its mutual relationship and capabilities, according to Hammond.

“Ultimately, what we want to do once a quarter is have a bilateral exercise with them, so we can improve our communications,” said Hammond. “We do the training so we know what their capabilities are, and they know what our capabilities are.”

To further expand their relationship, the Marines at Camp Hansen want to bridge any gaps between the installation and the community by fostering positive rapport.

“It lets the community know that we are not just Camp Hansen,” said Hammond. “We are part of the community too. The exercises show that the camp has resources that are here to help (Kin Town.)”

Receiving the letter of appreciation demonstrated that Camp Hansen Marines are taking the right steps to better their relationship and communication with the local community and police station, according to Hammond.

“The event was kind of a culmination of an effort to reach out over the last four years and be a part of the community,” said Merz. “Working with authorities was important, so that they see us as a part of the local community and not something separate.”

• Date Taken: 02.19.2014
• Date Posted: 03.06.2014 21:18
• Story ID: 121628
• Location: ISHIKAWA, OKINAWA, JP