History

Foresight into the possibility of an emergency occurring at the Dutchess County Airport prompted the Chief of the New Hackensack Fire Company (in Wappinger's Falls) - William H. Pottenburgh - to call for a meeting of interested fire companies to preplan Fire Police coverage at the airport. This meeting was held on April 24, 1969 at New Hackensack, and included Fire Chiefs, Line Officers and Fire Police. Pottenburgh's concept included the promotion of friendship and close relationships amongst local squads. Sixty-six individuals attended this first meeting - including representatives from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department.

Though there is no written record of initially naming the organization, the first meeting as the Dutches County Fire Police was held at the S. W. Johnson Engine Co. #2 of Wappinger's Falls on September 15, 1969. The County Fire Police Coordinator, Don Nickerson, officially opened the meeting. (Prior to the meeting, a committee comprising representatives from Wappinger's Falls, Fishkill, New Hackensack, Hillside Lake, Hyde Park and Rhinebeck had met to compile a Constitution and a set of By-Laws to guide the organization.) Forty attendees then discussed, modified and approved the By-Laws, with the aid of legal counsel. Robert MacDowell was the first Acting Secretary.

The second meeting took place on October 20, 1969, at which Membership Application Forms were distributed. Twenty-five new members - paying dues of $3.00 - signed up. The Constitution and By-Laws were sent to Attorney Francis Doughty of Beacon, to be reviewed.

The third Meeting was on November 17, 1969 at Millerton, and the Treasurer - Bill Malthamer of Hughsonville - reported receipts of $78.00 with expenses of $42.00. The first election of Officers then took place.

President - Al Kuhm (Fishkill F.D.)
1st Vice-President - Hull Way (Hyde Park F.D.)
2nd Vice-President - Robert W. MacDowell (Wappinger's Falls F.D.)
Secretary - John G. Berfels (Wassaic F.D.)
Corresponding Secretary - Charles Mahoney (Hughsonville F.D.)
Treasurer - Bill Malthamer - (Hughsonville F.D.)

The first Director from Dutchess County elected to the Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York was Don Nickerson, in May 1970 at the convention held in Nyack, New York. Later, at the August meeting, the name of the organization was altered to the present name - to avoid possible conflict with the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen's Association.

The Certificate of Incorporation, filed and dated June 1, 1971, by the Department of State recognized the VFPADC as a Not-For-Profit Corporation. As of September, 2001 the VFPADC had 140 members, representing most of the County's Fire Companies - as well as neighboring Fire Police Officers from Putnam, Westchester and Orange Counties. We maintain affiliations with these counties and of course the VFPASNY.