Robert Haskins: A career of community service

For as long as he can remember, Robert Haskins has always wanted to be in emergency services.

Haskins has pursued that dream his entire life and has obtained that goal three times over. He is currently a Sergeant in the New Jersey State Police, a volunteer fire chief and an EMT.

Haskins says “I always wanted to be a cop and a firefighter.” He was raised in a law enforcement family.  His father was a police officer for Amtrak and his uncles were cops as well.

He isn’t quite sure how he got started on the road to becoming an emergency medical technician. “I think that one of my friends was joining so I joined  too”, he said. Though, perhaps unplanned, that was his first foray into emergency services.  At age 16 he joined the Highland Park First Aid Squad and got his EMT certification there.

After graduating from high school, Haskins remained focused on his goal of becoming a police officer.  He attended John Jay College in New York City and completed and Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.  Shortly after graduation, Haskins passed the New Jersey State Police entrance exam in 1987.  He was appointed to the State Police in 1988 and attended the State Police Academy in Sea Girt.

Haskins has spent the majority of his time as a Trooper patrolling the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike.  He also spent time in the commercial vehicle inspection unit.  Haskins, who has held the State Police rank of Sergeant for five years, is currently assigned as a supervisor in the Hamilton barracks and is assigned to the Tactical Patrol Unit.  He and his troopers are responsible for patrolling Interstates 195 and 295 as well as providing local police coverage for a number of smaller municipalities in Monmouth, Mercer and Middlesex counties.

Even after serving as both an EMT and a State Trooper Haskins still hadn’t had his fill of  emergency services. In 1995 he joined the Holmes Marshall Volunteer Fire Company in Piscataway, NJ in 1995. He has also served in the North Stelton Volunteer Fire Company in Piscataway, where he held the rank of Lieutenant before moving to Jackson in 2001.

When he arrived in Jackson, Haskins joined the Jackson Mills Volunteer Fire Company and has quickly moved up the officer’s ranks.  He was made the Chief of the Department in May 2010.

As Chief, Haskins oversees more than 35 active volunteer firefighters and 4 career firefighters in Jackson’s fire district #4.  The company responded to 560 fire calls in 2011.

When asked what his biggest priority is in his term as Chief of Jackson Mills, Haskins stated “to mentor the kids in the fire company.  To make sure that they are brought up right and taught how to do the job the right way.”  Haskins also finds working with the other fire companies in town very rewarding and enjoys the camaraderie of all of Jackson’s firefighters.

Going into 2012, Chief Haskins is working with his officers and the commissioners of Fire District #4 to begin to plan to replace the company’s chief’s truck which has over 125,000 miles on it currently.  They are also in the planning stages of looking into replacing one of their aging fire engines that is 20 years old as of this year and will need to be retired soon.

Robert Haskins is in the midst of a very long, fruitful career in emergency services chasing his dream.  He has dedicated his life to serving his community no matter where he has lived.  He is an example for everyone of what an active member of a community with a dream and desire to serve can accomplish.

Posted by Matt Genovese on Feb 9 2012. Filed under Community News, Featured News, Jackson Fire & Safety, Jackson News, photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry