Gateway to Hope Director Gary Crim works closely with Community Resource Officer Shane Jasper to improve community relations in the business district. Crim updated Jasper on concerns on Thursday, March 10, 2016. (Cory McCoy/Staff)

A day in the life of Officer Shane Jasper is different from many other police officers. Rather than patrolling the area, looking for criminal activity or waiting to respond to such reports, Jasper’s role is focused on community policing and getting to know the neighbors and businesses in the areas he patrols. 

Jasper is a community response officer – one of 12 officers on Tyler’s Community Response Team – dedicated spending time in and getting to know the community they serve, so they can provide help and prevent criminal activity. 

Jasper shares the business beat with officer Chuck Boyce, their focus is proactively addressing problems seen by businesses and organizations throughout the city. Typically, Jasper operates in downtown and north of it.

One of Officer Jasper’s many stops is at Gateway to Hope, a nonprofit organization run by Hiway 80 Rescue Mission.

Gateway is a day resource center for the homeless. Jasper and fellow CRO Officer Green, whose beat covers much of the downtown area, have formed strong bonds with the staff and the people they serve.

The homeless in the area are not wary of Jasper. They know him, and they know he has their best interest at heart.

“If there are any issues or problems, they’ll come and talk to us about them,” Director Gary Crim said. “They have meetings about once a month with our clients and talk to them about issues they’re having and clarify whether they’re breaking the law or not.”

During the intense rain last week, Jasper visited Gateway. He listened to concerns from Crim that more people had not come in from the rain and got a tip about a new homeless camp set up nearby.

Jasper has no qualms about walking into the woods to find the camp and speak with its residents. He’s not worried. Jasper is a big guy, in fact he spent two seasons as a linebacker for the Denver Broncos. When he heads to the new camp, he’s there to build relationships.

“Officer Jasper and Officer Green, in my opinion, they do a very good job on making it known that they aren’t the enemy,” Crim said. “They’re friendly; they’re kind to our clients and they’re very understanding. They handle our clients very well, politely and with respect. Some of them call (the officers) friends.”

Upon arriving at the camp, it was apparent the heavy rain had been making life difficult for the young men who were sleeping there. They told the officer they were doing their best to keep the area clean and their trash out of a nearby creek.

Jasper asked the men about themselves. He asked if they needed anything. He’d heard concerned one might be involved with a gang, so he addressed the issue.

As he heads back to his patrol car, he explained the young men have challenges similar to many others – they’re young, confused and just trying to find themselves and their place in the world.

Crim said such outreach is important.

He recalled an instance when a woman called the officers looking for help. Her ex-husband’s mother had died, but the woman had no way of contacting the man who had been living in one of the homeless camps. Crim said Officer Green spent the better part of the day tracking down the man’s camp before bringing him to Gateway, so he could call family.

One of the most important aspects of his job, he said, is connecting with youth. The community resource officers spend a lot of time at schools and working with the Tyler ISD criminal justice program. They want the students to know that interaction with the police doesn’t have to be tense or confrontational.

“We try to do things our patrol officers don’t have the time to do,” Jasper said.

“I’ve got a lady who writes me a letter every week about what’s going on in her neighborhood,” Jasper said.

The resident will leave the letter with a gas station owner if she doesn’t see Jasper that week.

Twitter: @TMT_Cory