CHICOPEE, Mass. - The officers in the Counter Criminal Community Policing Unit, or "C3 Unit," in Chicopee center are working to make a positive impact through community outreach.

"We are in the community. We work with the community, through the community and for the community to get out here and be able to improve everyone's lives and general wellness every day," said patrolman Keith Hevey. 

During this week's heat wave, Hevey and John Slachetka, who is also a patrolman with the C3 Unit, handed out bottles of water and Gatorade.

For the officers, it was more than just offering a cold beverage on a hot day.

"With us being down here down all the time, no matter what and working with you, now we get to know you, get to know the cause of the problems around the community in the area so we can find an actual solution for it," said Slachetka.

The C3 Unit is also working to provide access to resources to those who need it most. 

"Unfortunately, there is some homelessness and scarcity of people being able to afford food and normal supplies," Hevey said. "So we try to help out and utilize organizations as much as possible to get those supplies out to the people who need them."

Although this job is different from answering 9-1-1 calls, the officers said it gives them a chance to find more long-term solutions to the problems in the city. 

"We have a chance to help someone with something. Whether it be homelessness or drug rehabilitation, we can...find them help so things like that is a little more rewarding for the job instead of just being like, 'Okay, we will see you next time when we come here for the same problem,'" Slachetka said. "Now we can help people change their lives. It's cool."