New Jersey State Bar Association President Robert Hille used his down time on Nov. 5 to assist with security and crowd control at the New York City Marathon.

As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Hille was attached to a U.S. Coast Guard Police Unit at the race, which drew more than 2 million spectators and over 50,000 race participants. Security at the annual event, which is already tight, was intensified further after the terrorist attack in lower Manhattan earlier in the week.

“I volunteered in the wake of Tuesday's NYC attack with a desire to assist in the event additional personnel were needed,” Hille said, noting he had participated in a similar capacity after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. “I was proud to assist with a great branch of the service and some of the best active duty and reserve personnel America has. I think we provided a significant measure of comfort to participants and spectators and were an effective deterrent.”