JAYCEES HONOR POLICE OFFICER

The Missouri Jaycees have honored a Cape Girardeau police officer as one of their 1997 10 outstanding young Missourians.

Cpl. Charles Herbst was nominated by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce for the state award after winning the local award.

The Missouri Jaycee's 24th annual Congress of 10 Outstanding Young Missourians is sponsored by Missouri Public Service.

"I was very honored," Herbst, 34, said. "Sitting at the head table with the other recipients, I couldn't believe all the greatness around me in that room."

Local Jaycee chapters from across the state nominated individuals from their communities with the top 10 being chosen by out-of-state judges.

Honorees were chosen on the basis of achievement or contribution in any three of the following areas: personal improvement or accomplishments; financial success and economic innovation; social improvement to major contemporary problems; philanthropic contribution or voluntary service; politics or government service; scientific or technological contributions; legal reform; cultural achievement; academic leadership or accomplishments; moral and religious leadership; athletic accomplishments; or success in the influence of public opinion.

"I couldn't believe it that I was one of the ones picked," Herbst said. "I'm involved in a lot of programs and do a lot of things that I enjoy doing for the community, but I don't do any of it planning on getting an award."

Herbst graduated from Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in business administration. In 1987, Herbst joined the police department's reserve unit. In November 1989, he began full time and was assigned to the patrol division.

In May 1994, Herbst was selected to become a member of the newly created Community Service Officer Unit. The unit was formed to improve the quality of life for the residents in a target area. He is currently the supervisor of the unit. He is also a certified fire investigator for Missouri, the Crime Scene Specialist for the Cape Girardeau County Major Case Squad, as well as a certified instructor for GREAT, the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program. In January 1996, Herbst was promoted to corporal.

During his present assignment, Herbst has developed a resource card that is distributed by the Community Service Officer Unit to every resident it meets. The resource card lists phone numbers for such things as shelters, clinics, family support groups, and food distribution centers, and also included a comprehensive list of city services available.

Herbst has spoken to more than 100 civic, fraternal, religious, student and governmental groups in the past three years on the topic of youth violence, community policing and proactive law enforcement programs.

In April 1995, Herbst was surprised to learn that the fifth-grade students nominated him and his partner, Ike Hammonds, as a Community Hero. Their 100-word essay was selected by the United Way, and as a result, Herbst was selected to be an Olympic Torch Bearer.

Herbst lives with his wife, Sydney, and their children, Erin, Allyson, Taylor, Travis, and Claire.