ELYRIA – Officer Eric Grove is the kind of law enforcement officer you want working in a public housing complex that is known for having more than its fair share of crime.

He is young, energetic and eager to do the job.

His superiors believe he is an “excellent officer that does quality work” and his peers describe him as “hardcore, but approachable.”

If the city ends up laying off 10 to 15 police officers to help deal with next year’s projected $4 million deficit, Grove, 33, likely will be out of a job.

According to union contracts, layoffs must be done by seniority, and Grove, with less than five years on the job, is 10th from the bottom on the seniority list.

“This is the guy that asked if he could work at the Wilkes Villa Housing Complex because he wants to do the job,” said his partner, Officer Dan Sumpter. “He knows what the assignment is all about, but still wants to make a difference.”

Sumpter, an 11-year veteran of the department who is not in danger of being laid off because of his seniority, said he began working with Grove at Wilkes Villa about three years ago. Together, they have worked to lower crime in the area.

And, while most officers will say they think they are making a difference, Sumpter and Grove know their work in the housing complex is changing things. On Friday, the pair was recognized by the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority for being key factors in the crime rate dropping to its lowest point in 10 years.

Sumpter said violent crimes, shootings and assaults are down, but they still have some work to do in regard to break-ins and thefts.

Working out of a mini substation where they can take complaints, write reports and file charges, Sumpter said they are making the assignment work for them, which also works for the residents.

“Fifteen to 20 years ago, that place was a nightmare, and we don’t want to revert back to that, and those two guys are right on top of that,” said Jim Long, LMHA’s chief investigator.

Sumpter and Grove work for the Elyria Police Department, but LMHA pays their salaries and both report to Long as their immediate supervisor.

“They are very dedicated officers,” Long said. “They work whatever hours I tell them to do, whether it’s 4 o’clock in the morning or 4 o’clock in the afternoon, to work with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Long, who surprised both officers Friday morning with plaques and a small recognition ceremony at LMHA’s Lorain headquarters, said Sumpter and Grove have stepped up enforcement of the complex’s criminal trespassing policy, which has resulted in more than 200 people being placed on a list barring them from the property indefinitely.

“Both are very outgoing, but when they need to be police officers they are,” he said. “They know how to be firm with people.”

While Long knows he can’t control Elyria city finances and decide which officers stay and go, he said he would not want to lose Grove.

“Most of the residents like him and the ones that don’t probably don’t because he is doing his job and, for us, that’s a good thing,” he said.

Grove and Sumpter were chosen to be the Wilkes Villa officers because they are excellent officers who are dedicated and have a desire to do the job there, said police Capt. Duane Whitely.

However, the assignment does not give either officer immunity from the layoffs.

LMHA pays for two police officers to work at the complex. Their contract does not specify which two Elyria police officers get the assignment.

Grove said he applied for the specialized assignment because he saw it as an opportunity to work with a senior officer while at the same time getting experience dealing with a variety of crimes. Both facets would help him further his career with the department, he said.

Still, the reality that he could lose his job is in the back of his mind every day, especially since Elyria voters defeated the 0.5 percentage point income tax increase Tuesday. City leaders said passage of the tax would have meant no police layoffs.

“Getting that kind of recognition is nice, in light of all the stuff that is going on and the looming layoffs,” he said. “We just want it out there that we are doing a good job with what we have. Even with our jail closing and officers doing more civilian work, we continue to be proactive about our jobs. We are out there and working hard.”

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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