'COP CARDS' ARE MAKING BIG SPLASH IN JACKSON

Part of the "lineup" of Jackson Police Department cards. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

When prickly stand-up comedian Don Rickles made a guest appearance as a convict on a classic 1960s television comedy, he quipped that his neighborhood as a child had been so bad that when children played "cops and robbers," the cops were the bad guys.

This was a quite humorous line two generations ago and needed no explanations or sociological footnotes when Rickles made the quip. Everybody in the era immediately before the ugliest days of the Vietnam protests and race riots could chuckle at the absurdity of the concept.

Today, letting children know that police are the "good guys" is no laughing matter. Uniformed officers -- as well as other emergency personnel -- often find youngsters intimidated and reluctant to approach them.

During a visit to a friend in Santq Fe, NM, Patrolman Darrell Sievers was ntroduced to a novel way of rebridging the gully between policemen and youth. The department printed cards of each local officer, similar to bubble gum sports cards.

"They must have had close to 200 officers and each one of them had a card," Sievers said.

He convinced Jackson Police Chief Maroin Sides to try the program. The long-awaited cards finally arrived last week. The reception has been overwhelming.

"They've gone over extremely well in the one day we've had them," Sievers said Tuesday. "I've already given out over 50 to different people. I saw a group of 15 kids in the park today. I knew one of them and came up and gave him a card. Within a minute, I had given out 14 other cards."

The object is simple: to provide a tangible physical link between officer and young adult or child and help them realize that each officer is human.

The back of each card -- like familiar sports trading cards -- contains biographical information, including hobbies.

"Any time a young adult comes to a police officer about anything, the community, the police department and -- more importantly -- that person wins," Sievers said. "No one will be denied a card."

While the cards are geared at those 18 and under, Sievers said even adults wanting "cop cards" will be accommodated.

Each officer has 1,000 cards from the first printing (ordered through the Jackson USA/Insta Print office) and some have 2,000 to 3,000. Howard Hammers, DARE officer, Kevin Harris, K-9 officer, Sievers, as program coordinator, and Rodney Barnes, as school resource officer, each have larger orders. Right now a "complete set" consists of 18 cards. As Sievers pointed out, though, the makeup of the force changes and so will the personnel depicted on the cards.

"It will never be ending, as new officers come in and others leave," he said. "You'll never have a complete set as long as there is a Jackson Police Department."

In the mean time, local merchants are helping encourage the card collecting.

For youngsters or youths who collect 12 different cards, Tractor's is offering a free meal and SEMO Specialty a free hat and shirt. Sievers emphasized that this is a one-time per customer offer by the businesses.

He does want to see widespread participation, though.

"I encourage them to stop every officer they see and get a card," Sievers said. "It wouldn't be fair to make them collect the cards of night shift personnel (to earn the free prizes), but they do have their cards, as well. I encourage kids to find them, too."

The program has been enthusiastically received by the young people of Jackson. Sievers is optimistic that it will help build better relationships between local law enforcement and local young people.

"Basically, it's a program that gives a kid an opportunity to get to know the department," he said. "We want them to realize policemen are human beings and that they can come talk. We're always willing to listen and to try to help."