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WARREN — There was no one telling them they had to help out, other than maybe their conscience or lingering holiday spirit. Whatever it was, two Warren police officers went above and beyond their on-the-clock duties for a family in need.
“Watching a kid sit on the floor, not seeing any couches or beds or anything, I was kind of like, ‘Oh, this is a problem,’” Warren police officer Chad Rossow said. “We should fix this, because I wouldn’t want my kid sitting on the floor.”
Rossow and officer Brian Stanko met Lillian Holt in early January during a call, according to a Warren Police Department press release. Holt works the late shift at a factory and is raising two teenagers as a single mom. Rossow said the officers responded to a call about an argument with one of Holt’s sons. It stemmed from Holt selling the family’s PlayStation 5 gaming console to a pawn shop. Holt has since got the PS5 back, according to Rossow.
“We left the original call and we’re like, ‘We should do something about this,’” Rossow said. “Let’s just make some calls.”
“Deeply moved by Ms. Holt’s challenges and her hardworking spirit, Officers
Stanko and Rossow knew they could not simply walk away,” the press release states. “These officers made the choice to become personally involved and serve as a lifeline for this family.”
The two officers gathered furniture donations from friends and family, which included couches and a bed. In addition, the officers gave a little bit, too. The release states they provided a king-size bed, dresser, TV and other furnishings. Rossow provided $300 in groceries for the family and, following a call, got Walmart to chip in with a twin bed set, sheets and other items.
In under a week, the two officers had loaded up a trailer with the items for Holt. Rossow and his girlfriend, Rebecca O’Connell, who is also a police officer, dropped the items at Holt’s house. Holt’s sons helped unload the items, starting with the groceries.
“She was kind of just stunned,” Rossow said. “She didn’t know what to think about it at first…She was very thankful.”
Rossow said the two officers were “glad they could help.”
“We get a lot of situations where we don’t get the opportunity,” Rossow said.
He said the donation was an opportunity to show a different side of police officers and build trust with the community.
“We’re a lot more than people who write tickets and do arrests,” Rossow said. “We’re here to help the community. Don’t be scared to ask for help if you need help. We do a lot more than just put bad guys away. We do a lot with mental health. We do a lot of things.”
The release commended the officers for going above and beyond.
“Importantly, and a true testament to their generosity and humility, neither officer sought recognition for their actions,” the release states. “Their actions exemplify the very best of what we want our officers to be: protectors, helpers, and compassionate members of the community who go above and beyond to make a truly positive impact in the lives of those we serve.”
At the Warren City Council’s Jan. 28 meeting, the two officers were recognized for their efforts with a resolution by council.
“We all know how hard our fire and police work,” City Council Secretary Mindy Moore said at the meeting. “They are brave and work under bad situations sometimes. They are called to task many times. Sometimes they just go beyond the call of duty and that’s what happened with these officers.”
