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Sheridan police officer strives to help community

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Contributed by: Joseph Kirchmer/YourHub.com on 3/12/2008

Editor's note: Visit our Faces of South Metro page, where YourHub.com staff and readers can introduce you to more people who make this part of the metro area what it is.

About 10 minutes into his shift, Sgt. Troy McCoy, of the Sheridan Police Department used a radar gun to lock in on a driver doing 62 mph in a 45-mph zone.

After pulling the car over, McCoy made sure to remove his sunglasses before getting out to speak with the driver.

"A pet peeve of mine is going up there with sunglasses on," he said with a smile. "I hate officers who do that."

That gesture seems to sum up McCoy's approach to law enforcement. He strives to shows everyone respect and expects the same in return. Of course, not everyone returns his goodwill, but it's his philosophy nonetheless.

"The police department here is very involved with the community," he said. "Complaints are very few and far between here."

McCoy, who has been with the Sheridan Police Department for four years, is a true community resource officer and his dedication showed as he patrolled District 2 in Sheridan on March 11. On this night, McCoy pulled the dreaded graveyard shift - 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A former school resource officer, McCoy seemingly knew virtually every teen he bumped into as he cruised the neighborhood streets. They were all friendly with him and it's apparent they know him well.

"Have you graduated from school yet?" he asked one of the girls, who replied that she hadn't. "You need to get your GED because you're not going to get a good job without it."

He chatted with a teenage boy a little bit and asked if his brother still worked at 7-Eleven.

McCoy worked as a school resource officer during his first year with the department and he misses it. He still goes to the local schools to have lunch with kids from time to time.

"I built a great rapport with the kids," he said. "It was hard to leave them."

McCoy also has been instrumental in running the department's shop-with-a-cop program, in which local businesses donate money and goods to ensure underprivileged kids receive presents on Christmas. He speaks highly of the local businesses that step up to the plate when donations are needed.

Later in the shift, he conducted a business check at Red and Jerry's, 1840 W. Oxford Ave., and struck up a conversation with an employee he knows from his days as a school resource officer. He asked her if she has her GED yet as she puffed on a cigarette during a break.

He later strolledthrough the sports and entertainment venue and recounted meeting his wife there, who was working as a teller at the time.

McCoy seems to know everyone in Sheridan, a city that spans 2.3 square miles and boasts approximately 5,600 people.

"I've met some great people here," he said. "I love being able to work with the community. Especially in this community. You can really see that the things you're doing are making a difference."

He passed a house and talked about how he teamed up with a local business to help build a ramp that leads up to a porch for a handicapped child. It's another example of the mark he's made in the city.

"I wasn't the richest kid growing up, but now I'm making a good living and my wife is making a good living," he said. "I guess this is just my way of giving something back."

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