CITY WATCH GROUP BECOMES ACTIVE; MORGAN OAK-ELLIS RESIDENTS FORM NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Neighbors around Morgan Oak and Ellis streets are looking out for each other more often now.

With the help of police, they have formed the only active neighborhood watch group in Cape Girardeau.

Since the group's first meeting in early April, complaints of loitering, narcotics sales and traffic problems have diminished, Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

Requesting an extra police presence in the area has helped, said Ron Acord, who lives in the 400 block of south Ellis Street.

"I feel like I know most of the police by name now," Acord said.

Acord had moved to the area from St. Louis about five years ago, he said. As a newcomer, some advised him not to buy a home in South Cape Girardeau.

"When we saw the area, we were discouraged somewhat," Acord said. "But we walked around in the neighborhood in the evenings, and it seemed OK."

About two years ago, evenings became unsettled, he said. People from outside the neighborhood would come and stay along the street, day and night. Acord calls it a result of increased drug trafficking in the area.

The situation didn't change until an evening when Acord was sitting on his front porch. A patrolman parked his cruiser in front of the house and got out to talk.

"I told him that we were at the mercy of the police, because we depend on their help a lot," Acord said.

This eventually led to a phone conversation with Police Chief Rick Hetzel and an invitation to get involved in the Community Leadership Group. The group, which has been meeting since last fall, has Cape Girardeau residents and police meeting regularly at the Salvation Army to find solutions to local crime.

With the assistance of Orr, Acord and other neighbors began knocking on doors to invite others to join a neighborhood watch group.

"We didn't get 100 percent positive responses," Orr said. "But we did get some people who were willing to help in some way."

The Morgan Oak-Ellis group is the only one actively meeting with police.

Although neighborhood watch groups have existed before, they faded away over time, Orr said. This tends to happen once the problems that galvanized neighbors to action disappear, he said.

The last neighborhood watch group was based around Jefferson and Frederick streets, said officer Ike Hammonds, who helps lead the community policing program. Its loitering and litter problems ended about two years ago, he said, as did the group.

Large crowds still migrate to the neighborhood a couple of nights each week, Acord said. But their overall presence has decreased as police activity increased.

"We've had better results," he said. "You don't see people loitering during the daylight hours now."

Thursday and Saturday nights remain a problem, Acord said. Thursday night is ladies night at the Taste lounge at 402 Good Hope. When bars close about 1:30 a.m., groups will stop at a corner gas station, then drift down toward Ellis Street.

"The drug dealers follow the crowd," he said. "Then a little corner pharmacy opens up."

Crowds of 50 or so are not uncommon, Hammonds said. But narcotic sales are not that prevalent.

"We keep things under control with directed patrols and by showing our presence," he said.

Police will observe until, usually, the noise level grows too loud. The crowds are then asked to leave the area. Most people are compliant, Hammonds said.

The most persistent problems come from women fighting, he said.

"We don't have as many problems with the men," Hammonds said.

Police always hope that neighborhood watches continue regular activities, he said, since it ultimately makes law enforcement easier.

"But when people lose interest, it's not a neighborhood watch anymore," Hammonds said. "It's just a sign on a pole."