DONATIONS SHOW CITY'S SUPPORT FOR POLICEMEN

Several thousand dollars have come into the Cape Girardeau Police Department this week after two officers were shot during a drug investigation last week.

An estimated $16,000 has been given through various fundraisers this week, said Bill Bohnert of the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association.

"We wrote them both out checks for $7,000 today," said Bohnert, a police detective.

Much of the money has come in as coins from schools, so it has taken more time for banks to count the remaining donations, he said. Once the money is counted, it will all go to Sgt. Bradley Moore and Cpl. Keith May to take care of incidental expenses.

Moore was examined at St. Louis University Hospital on Friday and then returned by ambulance to Cape Girardeau, Bohnert said. Doctors will give Moore about six weeks for his left shoulder to heal before operating to remove the bullet. Until then, Moore will recuperate at home.

May is expected to be released from Southeast Missouri Hospital today, Bohnert said.

Other donations this week have been made directly to the police department.

Wal-Mart store manager Wes Gillespie presented a check of $1,200 to police Friday to purchase two bullet-proof vests. After the shooting, Gillespie said the contribution was the best way that his store could support the police.

A $500 contribution was made by the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club to the department's vest fund.

Contributions generally between $100 to $500 are given by individuals and organizations at various times throughout the year, police Chief Rick Hetzel said.

"Periodically we get these donations from citizens when they want to express their gratitude for an officer doing something nice," Hetzel said.

From time to time officers are offered money on the spot out of kindness, but they redirect donors to give money to the police department, the chief said.

Donations to the department are set aside in a cash account maintained by the city. Money from the account is given out at the chief's discretion, Hetzel said.

If money is given for a specific purpose, such as bulletproof vests, it is spent as donors intended, the chief said. Other donations support activities such as the Chief's Club for students at L.J. Schultz School.

If residents or businesses would like to donate, Hetzel said they should send their money to the department in care of the police chief and indicate that it is a donation.

The officers association, which is independent of the department, uses any donations that it receives during the year to assist in sponsoring several programs, Bohnert said. These include funding the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for elementary schools, certain projects for Safe Communities and other charitable activities.