First member of Defense Department police now on station

Chris Langston is the first of 35 Department of Defense police officers to be assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base. All 35 officers are scheduled to arrive by October 2009. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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First member of Defense Department police now on station

Published Dec. 12, 2008
By Carl Bergquist
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell-Gunter members, employees and residents may soon see a new face on base - that of Chris Langston, a former Air Force security forces member and the first of 35 Department of Defense police officers to be assigned to Maxwell-Gunter. All 35 officers are scheduled to arrive by October 2009.

Mr. Langston arrived here Oct. 1. Originally from Jacksonville, Ala., he spent more than four years with Air Force security forces at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He comes here from his position as a DoD police officer with the Army.

"I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle and working with Air Force security forces again," he said. "I think Maxwell is a friendly base. I've been through the training needed to meet 42nd SFS standards, and I'm ready to serve the base."

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Jozwiak, 42nd SFS security forces manager, said DoD police officers have the same law enforcement authority as Air Force security forces members and are coming to bases across Air Education and Training Command. The new officers at Maxwell-Gunter will replace the current contract entrance control personnel.

"The DoD officers will help us find a balance in the career field by lessening the high operational tempo," he said.