Bristol Borough Council voted to approve the disability-related retirement request of Sgt. Alan “Hank” Hankison who served as a full-time police officer for 25 years after serving five years in a part-time role at Monday night’s meeting.
Simply called “Hank” by law enforcement colleagues, friends and alike, the big, burly cop who patrolled Bristol’s nooks and crannies for decades injured his back in November of 2022, officials said.
Known for his public facing gruff demeanor “Hank” also had a soft side when it came to the needs of visitors to Bristol where the mantra is “Welcome Friend.”
In 2014, Hankinson assisted a woman with a car full of kids that ran out of gas on Mill Street. He filled up a gas can and paid for it too, saving the day for the ever grateful woman, which this reporter covered in a story for another publication.
In 2018, he was honored by the Borough, for helping rescue an intoxicated woman who fell into the Delaware River and held on to her in the swift current until additional first responders came to assist with completing the water rescue.
Then in the winter of 2022 Kevin McCarthy lost his mother. He penned this letter of thanks citing Hankinson’s great care and delicate sensitivity in his families time of loss:
With all the hate and negative news police officers receive, I would like to personally thank one. On Friday, February 4, my Mom passed away at home and Sgt Hankinson responded to the call. When he arrived, he showed nothing, but complete compassion to myself and my mother. He went above and beyond, to call the funeral home and her family physician to notify them of her passing. He showed kindness and empathy to the family and friends that were present. Before leaving, Hankinson said, ‘if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to call.
Hankinson returned that sense of gratitude and support to those who knew his son had passed away unexpectedly several years ago.
“Thanks man that means a lot to me” he said when greeted by a resident
The Sgt. also had a snarky yet playful side when making a point about news stories. He shouted from his police SUV, “You got the story wrong, Bohen.”
Hankinson would say years later he did that because he could! And then he’d drive off to his next call, cackling about the point he had made.
Today’s next call for Sgt. Alan “Hank” Hankinson is now officially retirement.
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