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'Autism Cop' Honored For Educating Law Enforcement On Disorders

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A St. Paul police officer who's been dubbed "the autism cop" has a new title Thursday evening: Officer Rob Zink is the St. Paul Police Department's Officer of the Year.

Officer Zink is known for his work helping officers understand autism, and people with autism understand officers. At the ceremony Thursday he was overcome with emotion by one particular group who showed up.

"He's heaven sent, God Bless him for sending safety to our children with autism," Charlene Wilford of St. Paul said.

For months, Wilford has been singing Officer Zink's praises. When her son or any other child on the spectrum runs off or has a meltdown, she calls and he answers.

"He's the one that takes them, or brings Hairbo Gummy Bears or M&M's, or [takes] them to McDonalds or to the comic bookstore," Wilford said.

She's not the only one praising his work.

"The relationships he has built with families and the training he has provided to our officers is invaluable to all," St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith said.

With that, Officer Zink reluctantly accepted his boss's proclamation naming him Officer of the Year.

"It's overwhelming," he said. "I'd like to be back in the corner if I had the choice."

He thanked his sons, who have autism, and asked his honored guests -- a group of mothers and advocates -- to stand.

"These are the women who deserve the recognition for the work that they do," he told the audience.

Wilford appreciated the accolade but that's not why she came.

"That was wonderful for all of us parents," she said. "Not just one, but for all of us."

Zink's program Cops Autism Response Education (CARE) trains fellow officers to recognize autism, and helps them de-escalate calls that deal with people on the spectrum -- many of which he responds to himself.

"Having two autistic children himself and then working for St. Paul Police and coming to do that extra work at night -- that means a lot to us," Wilford said.

Officer Zink's CARE program has been so successful, he's now working to launch it on a national level. He's even had law enforcement from other countries ask for help.

Zink, a 15-year veteran of the force, thought he wasn't cut out for the job until a fellow officer came to his door and told him he was equipped for the job.

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