NEW POLICE CHIEF ON JOB; RICK HETZEL SAYS HE WANTS INPUT, IDEAS

A good leader is determined by what he does -- not what he says, said Rick Hetzel, Cape Girardeau's new police chief.

"I lead by example," said Hetzel, whose first day on the job was Monday. "But I'm open-minded and believe in learning from other people and letting them lead sometimes. I think that makes for stronger policing."

As Cape Girardeau's police chief, Hetzel said his first priority will be to get to know the department and its officers. He plans to work closely with the staff and community to gather input and ideas.

"I'm not the type to come into a new department and immediately effect some hasty changes," he said. "After I've talked with the officers and the community, then we'll decide what's best for Cape Girardeau."

Hetzel, 44, brings years of law enforcement experience with him. He comes from Norcross, Ga., where he had been police chief since 1992.

A native Missourian, Hetzel holds a master's degree in administration of criminal justice from Webster University in St. Louis. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

He worked for 17 years with the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

"What I bring is a variety of experiences taken in conjunction with talented people I work with and the community," he said.

"Perhaps I'm too demanding," he said. "I set such high standards for myself. I suppose I may expect more of people than I realistically should."

Some police department members believe one of the biggest challenges Hetzel faces is burglaries targeting the city's elderly. Although there has not been a burglary in five weeks, the department is vigorously investigating them.

"The department is doing everything they can to resolve these cases," he said. "The men and women are still working very hard."

He thinks a Crime Stoppers program, which is being looked at by community civic organizations because of the burglaries, would be perfect for Cape Girardeau.

"It's an excellent program," he said. "It would be a tremendous opportunity for Cape Girardeau to work together with the police department and the community."

He said he places a high priority on young people. He said he helped institute a school resource officer program in Norcross that he hopes to pursue in Cape Girardeau.

In Norcross, the program allowed a police officer to be at the local high school on a full-time basis, affording a presence that might deter crime, he said. But the main purpose of the program was to re-establish a relationship between police and students.

"It's a very proactive initiative," he said. "We've got to begin building bridges with the community, and what better place to start than with the young people?"

He said he also will look into establishing a network with hotels and motels in the area to exchange information with police.

"Unfortunately, a lot of transients can operate out of the hotels and motels in a community," he said. "This could help decrease that and benefit the community and the hotels and motels."

Hetzel and his wife, Kathy, have a grown son and daughter. The family lived in the Atlanta area.

"Cape Girardeau is our home," he said. "We're proud and honored to be here."