CSO Sean Mullane and Ben Bazira in a police car.

CSO Sean Mullane giving gifts to Ben Bazira alongside his father, Augustin Bazira.

Augustin Bazira watches his son smile as CSO Sean Mullane and Ben Bazira ride in a toy police car.

The Community Services Officer (CSO) Unit is a relatively new part of the Glendale Police Department. CSO, Sean Mullane, is a part of this new unit. He was working on a vehicular accident the week of March 6 when he met three-year-old Ben Bazira. Ben's father, Augustin Bazira, told him some background about their family originally being from Burundi and had fled to a refugee camp in Tanzania due to the violence and fighting with Rwanda. Mr. Bazira then came to the United States after the refugee camp in Tanzania. He and his wife and seven children now reside in Glendale and are happy and grateful for their family and all they have here.

Ben told Mr. Mullane that he wants to become a police officer when he grows up and that he had his own police car at home. Meeting Ben, tugged at Mr. Mullane’s heartstrings, having a young son of his own. Mr. Mullane and Ben bonded over the next few days with bringing dog Spike over, K9 cards, mini handcuffs, Jr. Badge stickers, and a mini police car.

Mr. Mullane spoke to Ben's father and found out they could use some assistance in groceries for Ben and the rest of their large family of nine. Mr. Mullane was going to purchase all of these items out of pocket on his own credit card. That is when the Fry's Food Stores manager Cory Gibson, from the store located at 43rd Ave and Bethany Home Road. stepped in to assist. Mr. Gibson generously donated the groceries for the family.

The Community Services Officers Unit will also be coming out soon with a video produced by the City of Glendale showcasing the new unit and officers. This unit consists of six non-sworn individuals, working from the Special Operations Division who are tasked with responding to calls for service that do not require a uniformed officer’s presence. By taking reports over the phone, and in person, the CSO is able to divert a portion of the workload from the mobile patrol force, therefore providing a better quality of customer service and lowering the department’s response time to priority calls for assistance.