Community impact officers 'humanize' police

SANDUSKY — Police officers handle complaints in the community. But many times, they only have time to "put a Band-Aid on the problem," Sandusky police Chief John Orzech said. Two dedicated community impact officers aim to solve issues more permanently.Officers Chris Rankins and Bronson Lillo are Sandusky police's community impact officers. They are tasked with solving neighborhood problems.While all officers are schooled in community policing, part of the community impact officers' role is to become known locally and to "humanize the badge," Orzech said.Read: Sandusky police pedal for progress"People get to know them as Bronson and Chris instead of an officer," Orzech said. "If (residents) have questions or concerns and want to have problems addressed, they're comfortable going to them."Sandusky officer Bronson Lillo discusses the problems with drugs that police run into in the community during a recovery class at Victory Temple Thursday, March 15, 2018. Rankins and Lillo also do walk-throughs at schools and business, and participate in police department events, like the "Coffee with a Cop" series. They also give talks at businesses, houses of worship and schools, including ALICE active shooter trainings.Rankins said he and Lillo give the community a different experience with police officers."A lot of times (police) will show up somewhere, people say, 'The police are here, what's happening?'" Rankins said. "We have the opportunity to walk in and people say, 'I just want to talk to you' or 'Can I ask you something?'"Community impact officer historyLaw enforcement throughout the country hired community policing officers as a part of President Bill Clinton's Community Oriented Policing Services program.Sandusky police got $225,000 in federal grant funding to appoint three of those officers in 1995, according to a Register article from that year.Orzech said the program was defunded but was revived several years ago after the approval of Issue 8, which increased income tax in the city.With extra funding for the department, Sandusky police gave Eric Costante the role of community impact officer. Costante is a member of Sandusky police's detective bureau."I gave him some loose direction but he took the ball and ran with it," Orzech said.The department brought on Chris Rankins as a second community impact officer about four years ago. Lillo's been a community impact officer for just over two years.Stories from the jobBoth Rankins and Lillo shared some of the more memorable moments from their job in recent times.Sandusky officer Chris Rankins hands Sue Sanders her sister Margaret's newspaper while delivering a hot meal on Monday, March 12, 2018 for the Erie County Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program. Read: All smiles for Meals on Wheels"One day, a gentleman pulled up with a child in his car," Rankins said. "He had a little girl who was afraid of cops, she'd seen bad stuff of TV, and he said 'I just want her to meet you guys.'"Rankins said the girl, who was four years old, was hesitant around him at first but after a tour of the police station felt much better about the officers."I think I made her day," Rankins said. "I felt good about that, along with the other officers in the station."Lillo said after responding to a call, he started talking to some children who noticed that he'd bought a Subway sandwich."They said 'we want Subway,'" Lillo said.Lillo said after asking the children's parents if the kids had any food allergies, he went out and bought the children sandwiches."I'll still see those kids. They'll say, 'Hey, you bought us the Subway,'" Lillo said.Lillo said anyone can approach him or Rankins whenever they need them."We're very available if you ever see us driving around or on station, we're always available to help," Lillo said. "We like meeting people, it's what we're here for."Visit our Sandusky police hub for more storiesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSandusky police officers Bronson Lillo (left) and Chris Rankins (right) work as community impact officers.