CELLULAR TELEPHONES AID POLICE

With the widespread availability and use of cellular phone systems in cars throughout the United States, the motoring public is becoming invaluable to law enforcement officers.

In recognition of that fact, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, in cooperation with the Missouri Highway Patrol and the St. Louis City and County Police Departments, recently introduced Cellular On Patrol (COP) a crime awareness and prevention program.

Through the COP program, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems has established a special, air time free "informant line." Customers who see any suspicious activity are encouraged to dial *COP on their phones to report their findings.

The call will automatically be routed to the nearest Highway Patrol office and be handled by state troopers.

"Cellular phones are playing an increasingly greater role in police work," said Frank Boyer, vice president and general manager of Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems. "To take full advantage of the impact cellular can have on crime, we want to encourage our customers to play a more active role. COP allows for that greater involvement, providing law enforcement agencies with, literally, tens of thousands of additional eyes and ears."

COP has also been endorsed by police departments in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, the Lake of the Ozarks and more than 50 other law enforcement agencies throughout Mobile System's 10,000 square-mile coverage area.

COP is an additional link to authorities, complimenting existing emergency phone numbers including 311 for the St. Louis County Police, *55 for the Missouri Highway Patrol and 511 for the Illinois State Police.

"Our existing emergency numbers are valuable resources for the authorities," Boyer said. "However, those lines are really intended to be used for genuine emergencies when lives are at stake."

To generate greater awareness for the COP program, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems is also distributing reflective bumper stickers and information on spotting and reporting crime to all its customers.

"We're proud to be a part of all the communities we serve," Boyer said. "And we also remain very committed to working with local officials in improving the safety and security of all citizens."

Capt. Steve Strong of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said that motorists with cellular phones greatly assist his department.

"There's a real benefit to (cellular phones)," Strong said Friday. "People will call us when they witness something in their car and can give us detailed information we otherwise wouldn't have."

Strong said that cellular phones have a significant effect on the number of driving while intoxicated reports the Cape Girardeau police receive.

"If motorists see someone driving erratically, they will call and give us specifics: tell us exactly where the person is, what kind of car they are driving, which direction the suspect vehicle is headed in and the license plate number," Strong said. "People have the immediate access to that information, which gives us immediate access. When people pull to the side of the road to call, a lot of time elapses and the suspect vehicle can get away."

During the recent snow storm, Strong said that his department received many calls reporting accidents along the streets of the city.

"(Cellular phones) give us another set of eyes on the streets; they're a good thing," Strong said.

Capt. Don Shelton of the Missouri Highway Patrol office in Poplar Bluff said Friday that cellular phones have played a significant role in his department, especially in the reporting of accidents.

"I can't tell you how much the calls have increased, because we didn't have anything like this before cellular phones," Shelton said. "But I can tell you that we have received several calls from passersby who report accidents or other things along the highways."

Shelton said that very few police cars are equipped with cellular phones.

"Most of the command personnel have phones, and some of the K-9 officers do," Shelton said. "Mainly they are in cars of personnel who need to be contacted quickly. It's a backup or alternative to the radio system."