Schrank retires from Ogden post We talked for quite a while, but the conversation kept coming back to the same thing -- the people. For Christian Schrank, the soon-to-retire chief of the Ogden Police Department, it's been all about the people. "I have had the opportunity to meet the most interesting, exciting people in this job," said Schrank, who has headed up the Ogden force since 1992 and plans to retire in mid-July. "It would be easy to focus on the negative things, and there have certainly been some challenging situations, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives. And most of those positives have come knowing and working with great people." But ask those that Schrank works with and the "people thing" takes a different spin. They say he's the person to know, the relationship builder, the one that makes sure that those he impacts are able to do their best work every day. "We will miss his wonderful ability to relate to everyone he (comes in contact with)," said Gay Lenhard, Ogden town supervisor. The key, Schrank said, is listening. "It may seem like a small thing, but I'm proud of our Citizens Surveys, surveys we send out to the community in order to get feedback on how we're doing," he said. "When I first brought that idea up in a staff meeting, people were a little worried about what we would do if we got negative feedback. But you know, the point of the survey is to correct the things you can. We have gotten some really excellent suggestions from those surveys. We have also gotten some really nice compliments." That drive for excellence led Schrank to leadership positions locally, across the state, and nation. He served as chairman of the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council and led the Ogden Police Department to meeting the 137 standards which result in accreditation, a status the 26-member department has maintained through three reviews since. He was appointed to the Board of Governors for the FBI/National Academy Associates in 2000. He was president of the Monroe County and New York State Chief's Associations and a member of the International Chiefs of Police. Collaboration through these organizations with other police departments, both locally and statewide, is efficient and wise, Schrank said. "Somewhere, it's likely that someone has already solved your problem," he explained. "What's more, you probably have something someone else could use. Sharing makes sense. In Monroe County, we're unique. The departments - from the biggest to the smallest - collaborate. We apply for grants together and talk about ways to meet our common needs. In other areas, it doesn't always happen that way." Schrank's ability to form alliances with other organizations is just one of the many ways he demonstrated his "professionalism and his commitment to our town," Lenhard said. Commitment comes easy when you love your work, but surprisingly Schrank didn't set his sights on a career in law enforcement right away. "Frankly, I'd had no inclination towards being in public safety," he said. "I thought I was going to be a history teacher. But I had a friend who encouraged me and once I had a real taste of it, it was an easy fit. Every day since then has been different." After a stint teaching history at Spencerport High School, Schrank became a patrolman for the Public Safety Department at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport in 1973. In 1975, he became a patrolman in the Village of Brockport, then rose through the ranks until he was appointed chief in Brockport in 1983. While serving as Ogden's chief, starting in 1992, he was honored several times. In 1998, he was given the Gene Shaw Law Enforcement Award - named for a man he considered a mentor, former Chief of Police in Brighton Gene Shaw -- and sponsored by the Crime Stoppers of Monroe County. The SUNY Brockport Alumni Association gave him their Outstanding Service Award in 1999. "The people I have worked with have made me look good in many ways," Schrank said, deferring praise for his accomplishments. "I hire capable people and then let those people go out there and do the right things. Good police officers are compassionate counselors who are able to evaluate their own performance and ask themselves, 'what can I do differently next time?' The people I work with know how to do that and know why it's important. I liken the department to a wheel with a lot of spokes. The stronger and straighter the spokes are, the truer the wheel turns." That philosophy is evident in Schrank's leadership style, said Sergeant Dale Barton, a 25-year OPD veteran. "Chris is not authoritative, not controlling. He really enables us to grow, to flourish, and become independent thinkers. He trains people to be thinkers and leaders." It's important to build a team because it's camaraderie and team spirit that gets policemen and women through the tough times, Schrank said. "There are things that are difficult, tragedies you have to address. Things like fatal MVAs (motor vehicle accidents), especially when there are children involved ... these things take up a small part of your time, but eat up a significant part of your life." Schrank credits his family for their support on the occasions when someone else's problems took him away from birthday parties, bedtime stories, and dance recitals. "Everyone in law enforcement makes those kind of sacrifices," Schrank said. "My family has been incredibly patient and understanding," he added, noting that he is looking forward to spending a great deal more time with wife Marion, daughter Carey, son C.J., Carey's husband Brian, and Carey and Brian's children -- his three granddaughters. "That's really all I have planned for the next six months, to be with the family, relax for awhile and then I'll decide on a long term plan," he said. "I've had a great time ... worked with great people. I am so proud of the men and women I work with and the community oriented service that we provided, together," Schrank concluded. Back again to the people. |
