After 35 years as a St. Louis Police Officer, Anthony Russo joins the force at Meramec
By: MALAIKA TOLFORD
Staff Writer
During his 35 years as a St. Louis Police Officer, Anthony Russo filled a number of roles. He was a motorcycle officer, a North Patrol Sergeant, Watch Commander, bicycle instructor, hostage response scene commander, and commander of three separate units in the Bureau of Investigations and Support. Before taking the position of interim Police Chief at Meramec, Russo had been working with the military overseeing and evaluating exercises in their law enforcement branch.
Though it’s an interim position, there’s a lot of work to do and Russo is up for the task.
“Right now it’s the job at hand. Make sure that everything is smooth, make sure that we’re running at an optimal level. I would love if this job would be permanent, but I will do my best regardless of how long it goes.
“‘Police Chief’ is new to me. I retired as a bureau commander and I’m proud of how far I came. If no one calls me Chief, I’ll be okay, as long as they let me do the job and keep things going. It’s not about the title, it’s about ‘What can I do?’ I told the president, I told the other police chiefs, I’m available 24-7. I’m available holidays, if you need help, I’m the first one getting in my car and coming.”
College campuses have a unique set of public safety challenges.
“Well on a campus setting, especially an open campus, you just have to be a little more alert. People are coming and going and it’s good to know behavioral type activity. You don’t want to be an occupying force and you prevent that by walking up ‘Hi, I’m Tony Russo,’ ‘Hi, I’m Officer Such-in-Such.’ Sure, everyone will be a little nervous, but you make sure that the students are comfortable enough to come up and talk to you. And that’s always the challenge – how to do that community oriented policing.”
Increased visibility is a goal for Meramec Campus Safety.
“I want to see more visibility of the policemen. So we’re walking more foot beats. It’s a good size police department for this size of campus and we’re going to use [the officers] as efficiently as possible. It’s my hope that we get a sub station right in the middle of campus, where people can just literally walk in. That whole connection with cops, the comfort and trust — if they see you everyday, I guarantee they’ll trust us. If you’re driving around in a car, then you’re the police. If you’re out walking, you’re Tony. Or you’re Rick or you’re John. That’s just how it is.”
Ties between campus safety and the Kirkwood Police Department will remain strong.
“We have a great connection now. I’ve talked to Kirkwood Fire, I’ve talked to Kirkwood Police and I’ve talked their two captains. They have a written order to help us. They’ve said, ‘Anything you need, we will help you with.’
“That is invaluable. In the emergency management world, you’re only as good — no matter how good you are — as your support system. That’s just like a marriage. I’ve been married 39 years, and I’m only as good as my wife. She holds me up. We’re a small department here. Who’s going to hold us up? Kirkwood is. I think we’re going to do really well with all our support.”
On the importance of building strong teams…
“This is about teamwork. This is about doing the right thing for the person next to you. If we take care of each other, we’re a lot more prepared to take care of people on the outside of that door. I’ll say this everywhere I go, ‘We may never barbeque together, but while we’re at work, we’re family and we have a special relationship.’ That’s what I tell all my crews.”
As a husband, father and grandfather, Russo knows life is more than work.
“Here’s what’s really great — you know what success is? Success isn’t this job. Success is my beautiful wife of 39 years still talks to me. Success is my three children talk to me everyday. Success is my 15-year old grandson and I go everywhere together, like my son and I used to do. That’s what success is. This [job] is wonderful and I love it, but [family] is the success that I have. I don’t know what I did to deserve it.
With Russo’s uncle, his two brothers, and two of his own children being in law enforcement, public service seems to run in the family.
“I think it has to do with teaching kids that a life of service is very rewarding. Teacher, firefighter, nurse, paramedic, policeman, camp counselor, whatever it is, when you put other peoples’ needs first, then you’re going to be a happy person.”
