Police - Drug arrests climb in Cape

After the sun sets, police say a few Cape Girardeau streets become open-air drug markets, where pushers deal openly and where families are afraid to go outside.

"I'm worried about the violence and the people who sell drugs here and what they're going to do," said Jessica Ruffin, who resides on Jefferson Avenue.

Last year, police made 593 drug-related arrests. Through August 2002, the department made 576 drug arrests, and police chief Steve Strong expects the arrests to climb as high as 800 by year's end.

It's the fears of residents like Ruffin and the increasing arrests that has Strong asking the city council to help combat the drug trade with improved lighting at places such as Jefferson and Hanover streets.

Ruffin thinks the improved lighting might help.

"It will make the streets a little safer," she said. "People selling drugs will be in the spotlight."

However, Hanover Street resident Natalie Ware doesn't think more lighting will solve her neighborhood's problems. She said the area needs a youth center with recreational and educational activities.

"If the city provided more places for the African-American kids to go to, they wouldn't be standing out on the street corners," Ware said. "There's nowhere to go but to just stand out here."

Strong acknowledged the council has budget issues to consider before granting his request, but he says more lighting a step in the right direction.

"Everything costs money, and every time a street light is upgraded it costs more money," he said. "But, if you want to combat crime in a neighborhood, one of the simplest things you can do is to light it up."

Strong presented a letter to the council Monday outlining the problem. In coming weeks, he will make a more formal presentation to the council.

Nearly two years ago, the department changed its approach to staffing and now has officers working 12-hour shifts in a single neighborhood.

"One of the benefits of that change is we have officers placed in permanent zone assignments," Strong said "The officers began to know the area and the people in it really well and can focus and recognize on sight who is a problem."

Strong said this also helps his three narcotics officers because rather than having to speak to 50 or more officers who may have worked in a neighborhood, they can go to the ones assigned to a zone for details about the people involved in a area's drug trade.

Other factors in the increased arrests are more store personnel contacting police about suspects obtaining meth ingredients and police narcotics investigators excelling in their investigations, said Capt. Carl Kinnison. Two of the officers belong to the SEMO Drug Task Force and the third strictly works on Cape Girardeau's drug trade.

"We're showing more arrests for the city that before may have been happening outside," Kinnison said. "All three of our officers are very aggressive and very good."

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle agreed the police and the task force have been increasingly effective, and he emphasized the value of tips from residents.

"A lot of cases get initiated by conscientious workers at these stores who call in when they see someone buy a lot of pseudoephedrine," Swingle said.

Another reason for more arrests may simply be increased drug activity, the prosecutor said.

Swingle said many of those arrested over the last year are likely repeat offenders.

"Meth is so addictive," he said. "It's not unusual for a suspect to have two or three new cases filed on him before his first charge hits the trial phase. They get arrested, make bond and go right back to it."

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160