"I go out and talk to the community to answer their questions so that we can better serve them," says Roberts, who has been on the force for five years. "Usually community members will invite me to meetings if there is a problem in a particular area or if they're concerned about something. I also canvas the neighborhood and review police reports to spot crime patterns."

She also patrols the area by car and on foot, and makes arrests if necessary.

Her boss, Woodlawn resident Rudy Nimocks, says having an officer like Roberts on duty is vital to the success of the University Police force.

"The kind of work she does every day is absolutely essential," says Nimocks. "Most police agencies today understand the value of collaborating with the public they serve. The way JoCathy Roberts connects with residents in our neighboring communities makes us all safer, and it's not always an easy job."

"Some people don't realize that they can call the UCPD for assistance even if they aren't connected with the University," says Roberts. "I know the community appreciates us. They say to me, 'It's nothing against the Chicago Police, but we call you all first!' They think our response time is a lot quicker. We pride ourselves on that."

Despite the taxing nature of being "officer friendly" one day and an arresting officer the next, Roberts says her job is "completely rewarding."

"What I like the most is the contact with the community: being able to get out and to see the needs of seniors or a particular school or church. I seek that out first-hand, and if I think I can do something to help or to make them more comfortable in their goings and comings then I'll go back to my boss and say, 'I think we should do this.' "

University Police come to community and campus events to share safety information and make sure that event-goers are safe and secure. They also hold a Thanksgiving food drive and collect Christmas toys for needy children.

Once Officer Roberts responded to a burglary at a home where a family had lost nearly all their possessions.

"This was the most touching experience to me," says Roberts. "While I was talking to the parents, their three-year-old boy kept interrupting and saying he wanted to tell the police officer something. Then he told me, 'they took my piggy bank and it had all of my quarters in it.' "

Not long after that, Roberts saw some piggy banks at a local store. She bought one and told her buddies at the station about the little boy's story. "We did it!" she says. "We put coins in his bank and took it back to him, and he was so happy!"