EDUCATION IS DIVISION'S TASK

A little room at the end of a hall in the Cape Girardeau police station serves as the communal office space for five officers with unique duties in the department.

This crew of a sergeant, two officers and two civilian staff members make up the Training and Community Affairs Division of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

"In addition to the primary role of a traditional police agency, the department continues its involvement in the area of drug and alcohol awareness programs," said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr.

According to the 1992 annual report released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department last week, the basic responsibilities of the division include training, crime prevention, crime analysis, victim/witness assistance, public information, public relations and the coordination of the Community Traffic Safety Program.

In 1992, a number of training programs were offered by the division on such topics as domestic violence, adult abuse law, firearms training, search and seizure, crowd control and driving while intoxicated law.

In addition, departmental personnel attended several training seminars on statement analysis, street gangs, executive development, earthquake response, vehicle search and seizure, child and sexual abuse, and other topics.

But beyond the self-improvement of its officers, the department offers several programs for the community at large.

Last year, the police gave 104 crime prevention/public safety programs, fingerprinted 1,020 children and gave 33 tours of the police station. In doing so, the police reached out to more than 9,000 area residents, according to the department's annual report.

The crime prevention unit is also responsible for all bad check complaints, as well as other fraud complaints. During 1992, almost 200 cases were investigated by the unit.

This unit was responsible for the Cape Girardeau part of the investigation leading to the December arrest of two men in Bollinger County, charged with a bad check scam. The two were suspected of fraudulently obtaining more than $20,000 worth of merchandise in Southeast Missouri.

One of the men was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to bad check charges in February. The other case is pending.

In October 1984, the city became involved in an effort to raise safety belt usage through a community project. The project was funded locally by the Missouri Easter Seals Society and funded through the Missouri Division of Highway Safety.

Due to the overwhelming success of the program, a decision was made to fund a full community traffic safety project. In 1989, the project became a direct program of the city of Cape Girardeau under the supervision of the Training and Community Affairs Division of the police department.

"The department enjoys great success with its involvement with the Community Traffic Safety Program," said Boyd. The project sponsors Project Graduation, drug-free rallies, drug and alcohol awareness programs and various community seminars.

The program's goal is to address traffic safety issues on a local level by soliciting input and participation from both the public and private sector. The program primarily addresses two issues: seat belts and driving while intoxicated countermeasures. Other areas emphasized by the program are bicycle safety, motorcycle/all-terrain vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, speed enforcement and emergency medical services.

During the 1991-1992 grant year, the Missouri Division of Highway Safety provided more than $94,000 in funding. This money was used not only to support specialized personnel, but also to fund local projects to promote traffic safety.

The Cape Girardeau police received another grant last year through the Drug Free School and Community Advisory Council to implement the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program within the public and private schools in the city.

In December 1990, an officer was hired full time to instruct the DARE program. The officer goes to sixth grade classes every week for 14 weeks to teach students how to refuse drugs and alcohol. DARE teaches students that popularity can be found in positive behavior and that self-confidence and self-worth come from asserting themselves and resisting destructive temptations.

The curriculum for the DARE program was designed to be taught by police officers who have seen how drugs and alcohol can destroy lives and can answer students' questions based on training and experience, the annual report explains.

During 1992, more than 600 sixth graders graduated from the DARE program. The schools have followed suit with the DARE program, starting their own drug-awareness programs, authorities point out.

Since 1986, the Cape Girardeau police in conjunction with the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's office has been involved in the Victim/Assistance Program.

Primarily the program is designed to assist the victims of crimes through the criminal justice system. In 1987, the program was expanded to include all victims of violent crimes, regardless of whether or not an arrest was made. During 1992, members of the Victim/Assistance Program provided assistance to more than 200 crime victims.

Boyd said that the department is grateful for the support it receives from the citizens, both elected and appointed officials and other city departments. "The success of the police department is largely a result of the support and cooperation it receives from the citizens it serves," he said.