Andrew Frimpong brings kindness to community policing

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

By Dylan Pichnarcik

Associate Editor 

With an uplifting British accent that turns routine greetings into quick moments of warmth, Officer Andrew Frimpong of the Framingham State University Police Department (FSUPD) has become a familiar presence

brightening the days of many who cross his path. 

Frimpong may seem like a campus presence going back generations. However, he only got his start in law enforcement at the age of 50. He is now 54. 

Before working in law enforcement, Frimpong worked as an activities coordinator for individuals who struggled with mental health. 

“I loved the job, and myself and another colleague, we actually set up a soccer league for people with mental health issues. It was a co-ed [league], and it was not only to enjoy sports, but also to break down the barriers and stigma surrounding mental health. And it grew so exponentially that we actually traveled the length and breadth of the UK, promoting sports for people with mental health issues,” he said.

He added his organization was recognized by multiple premier soccer clubs, and they were able to host a tournament at the Chelsea Football Stadium. 

While working with individuals with mental health issues, Frimpong also had a passion for criminal justice, and after being offered a job in the States, he pursued his degree and was encouraged by a professor to become a police officer. 

“I said, ‘To be honest, I'm way too old to become a police officer.’ And he said, ‘No, Andrew, they're recruiting like crazy.’ 

“They were looking for people who had experience in de-escalation, and because of my past in mental health and doing therapy work, he thought that I would make an ideal police officer,” Frimpong said. 

Shortly after, Frimpong joined a police academy led by former FSUPD Chief Joseph Checci. 

Frimpong said when initially enrolling in the academy, he did not pass the Cooper Entrance Exam, a required fitness test for admission. 

He said a portion of the exam is a mile run that must be completed in a short amount of time, which he was unable to complete.

“Damn, I just couldn't do it,” he said. 

Frimpong added, “One of the drill instructors actually pulled me aside after my attempt, and he said, ‘Listen, I want you to run for the whole year. I just want you to practice running for the whole year, and I'm gonna contact you again because I want you back at the academy.’” 

He said he did not initially complete this challenge. However, he later began working toward improving his running time.

He later reapplied for the Cooper Fitness Test and completed the program. 

After completing the police academy, Frimpong worked as a municipal police officer, but after a short while, he decided it was not for him.

Frimpong said a major driver of his work on the FSUPD and in law enforcement is communication and de-escalation. 

He said he works with individuals who cross his path to hear their stories and come to a resolution. 

“I tend to like being around the campus, because I like chin-wagging. I like talking to people. And I love just taking the time and talking to people, asking how their day’s going, and seeing how things are. And if they're having a bad day, how can we resolve it? 

“The simple thing for me is all about time. Taking that extra 5-10 minutes to listen to someone, to find out how their day is going, and obviously helping when I can,” Frimpong said. 

He added he also understands what policing has looked like in the past and how it continues to reflect on law enforcement institutions, citing incidents such as the murders of George Floyd and Stephen Lawrence as moments he was discouraged by law enforcement. 

Frimpong added he believes “wearing this uniform - and I know this sounds like a cliché - you can really make a change. You can spend that few couple of seconds talking to a person and just get to know their story. Or, spending some time with them, even if it's something so irrelevant, like their cat is in a tree, or something that you just help that person, and that's what the uniform can aspire you to.” 

“You never hear about the cases where a stranded mother who can't pay for diapers is in a store and all of a sudden, the storekeeper calls the police to try and get her arrested, and the officer comes in, finds out the story behind what's going on, and pays for the diapers,” he added. 

Frimpong said, regarding FSU, "When I came to Framingham, straight away, I loved it straight away. It was perfect."

He added, “I could just see the whole department. The police department was absolutely phenomenal. Really easygoing. They could relate to students’ needs. It was a small corps of police officers, and they really, really did relate well to students as well."

He moved to the United States 20 years ago from London. While being born in the United Kingdom, Frimprong is proud to say his “country of origin” is Ghana. 

He added he still has family in London including his parents and son, and goes back frequently to visit them. 

Frimpong, with a grin on his face, said his favorite food from back home consists of a full English breakfast. 

“I'm a foodie. I am a real foodie. To get my day started, I usually have to have something in my stomach, and I do miss a good English breakfast,” he said.

According to Frimpong, a full English breakfast consists of sausages, bacon, eggs, baked beans, and toast, and he prefers pineapple juice instead of a traditional coffee or cup of tea. 

While discussing his favorite breakfast items, Frimpong omitted a staple of a traditional English breakfast, the infamous “black pudding.” 

“No, no, Hell to the no! Who would want to eat congealed pig’s blood? It’s so nasty,” he said. 

Black pudding is a blood sausage, which is a traditional part of a full English breakfast.

In his free time, Frimpong enjoys playing pickleball with his colleagues at the Warren Conference Center and is the self-proclaimed “King of Foosball.” 

Frimpong is also an avid ping pong player and still hasn't found anyone within the University “to come and challenge me yet.”