Community Engagement Officer Leaves A Local Legacy In Waterford

WATERFORD, CT — Every community has first responders who are leaving a local legacy in the areas they serve.

In light of this, Patch and T-Mobile are spotlighting local EMTs, firefighters and police officers who are making a difference in their communities.

The following interview was conducted over email with Eric Fredricks, an officer with the Waterford Police Department who also has served as a community engagement officer in town for three years.

He has also been paired with the department's Facility K-9, Hodges, for three years.

Thank you for all you do, Officer Fredricks!

How long have you been with the Waterford Police Department?

I’ve been with the Waterford Police Department for 14 years.

What is your role as a community engagement officer, and what are some of your responsibilities in this role?

I am in charge of multiple programs and events that help build the bridge between the community and the police department. Some of these events are Coffee with a Cop, Stuff-a-Cruiser, Tip-A-Cop, Shop with a First Responder, Torch Run, Community Clean-up, and Mock Traffic Stop Events for Autistic Drivers/Passengers and Newly Licensed Drivers. A few of the programs that I am responsible for are Domestic Violence Victim Follow-ups, Advance Services Program, Waterford Police Citizen’s Academy, Traffic Stop Safety Classes with Rae’s Driving School, and Crime Prevention Classes for Seniors and Youths.

I assist our agency to be involved in the community by partnering with the Waterford Rotary, Camp Harkness, Waterford Lion’s Club, Senior Services, Scout Packs, and other town agencies and local community organizations. I help our agency support charitable causes such as the Connecticut Special Olympics, Terri Brodeaur Breast Cancer Foundation, Waterford Youth Services, and SafeFutures.

I also assist with our recruitment efforts. I am in charge of our internship program and visit multiple high schools, colleges and job fairs to speak about the opportunities within our agency.

Officer wellness is a focus of the Community Engagement Officer and the Facility K-9. I help coordinate a variety of events that benefit our officer’s wellness and the community. Some examples of these programs are Waterford Country School Basketball Game, Officer Wellness Day at the CT Science Center, Raymour & Flanigan Bingo Fundraiser, and K-9 Officer Day at Mystic Aquarium.

Lastly, my position does revolve around K-9 Hodges due to his popularity in town. Hodges helps our agency to improve officer wellness, victim support and community engagement. Hodges has been deployed to comfort victims and their family members after traumatic incidents on many occasions. Hodges has interacted with officers and other first responders during incident debriefs and funerals. He is requested to attend court to interact with juvenile victims who are testifying. He also engages with the community at numerous events such as K-9 Demos, Read to Hodges at the Library, Senior Living Visits, Police Department Tours and visits to various other organizations and community establishments.

What is the most rewarding part of being a community engagement officer in Waterford?

The most rewarding part of my job are actually times that I rarely show off on Hodges’ social media pages. I feel the most fulfilled when Hodges and I interact with people who are in need. This ranges from juveniles who are testifying during an assault court case, a family who lost a loved one, to students that are in crisis. The most rewarding part of my assignment is when Hodges interacts with police families who have lost their loved one. Giving those families a small amount of relief and happiness during these tragic events is very rewarding feeling.

What is one challenging aspect of this role?

One challenging aspect of this role is when people form opinions about officers by just watching videos on social media. Social media plays a large role in our society today and unfortunately people make opinions before knowing all the facts. Also, sometimes the perception of all officers gets lumped together based one officer’s actions. This is why community policing or community engagement is an essential part of police work these days. It is important that a police department has a strong relationship and trust with their community members. Thankfully our agency has a strong bond and open communication with our community members. I believe this is the result of the community engagement that our agency does.

Why do you feel the role of a community engagement officer is important in a community like Waterford?

The role of community engagement is very important. As I said previously, it’s always essential to have open communication and a positive relationship foundation in the world today. People see incidents that happened on the other side of the country on social media or the news and will blame Waterford officers for it. Community engagement gives Waterford officers a chance to build positive relationships with our citizens. Engaging with the community is also essential because it helps with officer wellness. Police officers have one of the most stressful jobs and they sadly usually see people on their worst day. When officers participate in community engagement programs/events, it helps them see the other side of our society.

What inspired you to train to become a police officer? Has this always been the career path you've been most interested in?

I always wanted to help people. That is the most generic answer that we get during police oral boards, but it’s true. I wanted to make a difference in my community. Even if it is arresting someone, I hope the incident turns into something positive for the individual and they can learn from their mistakes.

I did not always want to be a police officer. I first wanted to become a teacher because I come from a family of teachers. I worked as a substitute teacher and realized that I did not want to be inside of a classroom all day. As a police officer, every workday is different, and no two days are the same.

Have your own experiences as a community member prepared you in any way for your current role serving Waterford as a community engagement officer?

Yes of course, being a community member of the town I serve in helps me know how I can better work for our community members. It helps me see what is needed to build the relationships from what crime prevention topics need to be addressed, if there are certain organizations in town that need contact, to what programs would benefit our town.

What local legacy do you hope to leave in your current role with the Waterford Police Department?

I hope that one day people know my name instead of just calling me “Officer Hodges.” Just kidding! I hope that people understand that no matter who the officer is or what their assignment is, most officers are trying to make their communities a better place. This can come in many different forms from talking to students about bullying prevention with a comfort dog by your side, writing a driver a ticket because too many car crashes happen on a certain street, to seizing illegal drugs off the street to prevent another overdose occurring.

Anything else you would like to add or mention, or anyone you would like to thank who helped you get to where you are today?

Feel free to always reach out to me about community events and community programs for Hodges and I to join. If I can’t come or don’t respond right away, please don’t be mad. This dog, Hodges, gets booked up quick. In regards to thanking people and on the professional side, I’d like to thank retired Officer Maffeo, Chief Balestracci, retired Lieutenant Silva, SRO Lane, and Detective O’Connell because they have all helped me become the officer that I am today. On the personal side, I have to of course thank my wife for being my biggest supporter and allowing me to have a crazy work schedule to the ever-changing needs of our community.

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