Anti-violence group examines ways to intervene for at-risk children

The discussion at much of the second meeting of Stop Needless Acts of Violence Please, or SNAP, at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau was about reaching children before they began getting into serious trouble.

Participants at the meeting, about 25 in total, split into groups assigned to a specific topic -- youth, parents, community and violence -- and were directed to come up with ways to address each one.

Mike Bowers, speaking on behalf of the group assigned to youth, pointed out there should be an emphasis to reach children by third grade. Any child falling behind would be assigned a mentor to try to help them.

The parent group, led by Emily Schott, brought up the need of education for parents. Zoia Martin noted parent classes offered by the United Way and Southeast Hospital.

"We have kids having kids," Cape Girardeau Police Lt. Brad Smith said. "You expect them to do A, B, C and D, and they're absolutely lost. We're putting a lot of pressure on young parents."

At the end of meeting, Stafford Moore made a plea to appeal to the interests of the youth other than sports, and he suggested programs that involved computers.

"We need to do something for the kids that don't like football or basketball," Moore said. "These kids are technical."

Minister Tammy Frazier, speaking for the community group, had several suggestions that did not involve children. One of the biggest was an increased police presence in Cape Girardeau. She also said pastors should come together, and SNAP needs to be active on social media.

SNAP was started by Felice Roberson as a call to stop violence in south Cape Girardeau. Roberson's son, Quinton Combs, was slain on South Frederick Street in November. She one of her main concerns is most of the people in the vicinity where her son was shot would not talk to the police.

"We can't stop violence in the world, but we can do something about it in Cape Girardeau," she said. "I believe the people who commit crimes don't need to be walking in the community. The police cannot do this by themselves."

Roberson celebrated SNAP already notching one victory: The Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office charged Terrance Vance with the 2014 murder of Anthony Hempstead. Smith said police made a breakthrough because they finally had witnesses talk.

"I have hope that whoever shot 'Q' will come forward," Smith said to Roberson. "It was very good news, but it shouldn't have taken that long."

Roberson, however, was happy the group may have already made a difference.

"It starts off small," she said. "It may not look like anything, but it is."

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

701 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.