St. Paul Officer Dubbed 'Autism Cop'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A St. Paul Police officer is using his personal experience to take community policing to a new level.
Rob Zink, who has two sons with autism, is taking what he has learned from being a dad to the streets her serves.
Zink interacts with parents to help connect them with resources and support.
Charlene Wilford says her son, Devonte, looks forward to visits from Officer Zink. He loves riding in Zink's police cruiser, but that was not always the case.
"My child was scared of the police," Wilford said. "He wouldn't interact, he would go hide in the closet, anywhere."
Zink says most children on the autism spectrum fear officers. His mission is to get rid of that fear, and give them a reason to trust police.
He is called the "autism cop." He is sent to scenes where people with autism are in crisis. He has learned how to deescalate situations and get them the help they need.
Zink is not alone. He now trains other officers to detect people on the spectrum.
The program, Cops Autism Response Education, teaches officers techniques that help them handle a person in crisis.
Zink says it is what happens after a crisis intervention that makes a difference.
"Part of the things we're doing is having this contact and follow-up with these children so when they have interactions with the police, it's not the big scary guy coming to meet them. It's a friend or someone they can associate with," Zink said.
Wilford sleeps better knowing that if her son runs or has a meltdown, officers know her child and how to help him.
"He has learned to trust police, that they are safe, it's okay," Wilford said. "[Zink is] heaven sent and God blessed him to bring safety to our children with autism."
The Autism Society of Minnesota says parents should call police and schedule a time for officers to meet their child.
It also hopes to spread the word about the resources available to parents with children on the spectrum.
