City of Bay City recently issued the following announcement.
When Lt. Rod Schanck interviewed at the Bay City Police Department (now Bay City Department of Public Safety) back in 2000, the then-chief let him ask a few questions. There was one question that was at the top of his list. “I asked if the department planned to create a canine program,” Lt. Schanck shared. “I guess you could say my entire career I’ve been working towards the program we now have.” In fact, helping implement the Canine Unit was his first major responsibility after being promoted to lieutenant in June of 2020. This also happens to be his proudest accomplishment in his career. “K9 Loki has confirmed there is a lot of community support for the program,” Lt. Schanck said. “There’s one woman who donates every month for his food, and out at events he is pretty popular. People are grateful to have Loki.”
Crafting the policies for the Canine Unit, as well as helping select the first-ever handler and canine, were some of the tasks Lt. Schanck worked on before the unit officially launched. Now, he supervises the team and actively takes part in its training. Along with his daily tasks, Lt. Schanck manages the patrol fleet, the Field Training Program, and the report writing system. Each day our public safety officers (PSOs) may respond to more than a dozen calls – many require a report. It really just depends on whether a crime was committed or if the officer is mediating some other type of issue. “Truly, writing a report is one of the most important things we do all day. It explains what you did, what you saw, what you heard – to the public and prosecutor,” Lt. Schanck said. “The ability to recreate what happened on paper is sometimes the hardest part.” As a supervisor, Lt. Schanck assures reports are written in a timely manner and body camera footage is properly uploaded.
Everything Lt. Schanck asks of his PSOs, is something he’s already done. From the time he started in 2000 until March of 2009, Lt. Schanck was on road patrol. Most of that time was spent on the night shift, with a few stints on days and afternoons. He spent another four years with Vital Innovative Partnerships Ensuring Reclamation (VIPER) and the Safe Streets Task Force. At that time he was also a part of the Jump Out Team which focused on getting ahead of drug and gang-related crimes in specific areas. He spent another two years on night shift road patrol before becoming one of the city’s accident investigators in 2017. Then in 2018 he was promoted to sergeant. Since June of 2020 he’s held his current position.
Most days begin the same way. Lt. Schanck and the night shift command hold a debrief session to find out what will need addressed on day shift. Then there’s a roll call with PSOs before they get on the road and he handles his own duties. He could be working on his administrative duties, meeting with a citizen who walks into the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) to make a complaint or helping with road patrol when staffing requires it. “It all comes at you at once, you just have to keep focused,” Lt. Schanck said. Lt. Schanck said he doesn’t miss the daily grind of road patrol; however, he has a true appreciation for what the PSOs handle every day. “I get the chance to look at calls differently now. Instead of just the call in front of you, I can see the broad view,” Lt. Schanck shared.
So how did Lt. Schanck, who grew up in Mio, end up in Bay City? It started when he was a freshman at Saginaw Valley State University. “I had a criminal justice class my first year and liked it,” Lt. Schanck said. “At the time I still didn’t know that I wanted to be a cop but I knew I liked the field.” Fast-forward to his senior year and someone from the Bay City Police Department spoke at another class. “It’s the only place I applied. I was lucky to be sponsored,” Lt. Schanck explained. “I couldn’t afford to stop working to attend the academy. Sponsorship was my best option.” Lt. Schanck graduated from SVSU and then entered the police academy at Kirtland Community College. Then, it was off to work in the city that sponsored him during the academy. “This career has provided security for me and my family and for that I am grateful,” Lt. Schanck shared.
Lt. Schanck also is grateful he gets to oversee the Canine Unit – something he’s wanted since he first put on the uniform. Not only has he enjoyed seeing Corporal Paul Cairns and K9 Loki succeed on-the-job, but Lt. Schanck has also enjoyed a few ‘perks’ off-the-clock. When Cpl. Cairns went on vacation, Lt. Schanck and his family welcomed K9 Loki into their home for a few days. “He definitely wants to work! He’s a little more high-energy than my dog,” Lt. Schanck shared. “He’s also a great asset for the city. While he’s a working dog, K9 Loki also is helping build relationships with community members.” You might call the Canine Unit a full-circle moment for Lt. Schanck, as well as a reminder of why police work is so important. “Anyone who’s been in law enforcement has at some point questioned what they’re doing,” Lt. Schanck explained. “But I always come back to all of the important things I’ve done in my career. We do a lot of good things and help a lot of people. We are there when someone needs us most. It’s a great feeling to be able to make a difference big or small.”
Original source can be found here.
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