POLICE CLEAN UP GOOD HOPE NEIGHBORHOOD

About 15 officers from Cape Girardeau Police Department's Platoon B spent their free time Tuesday morning picking up trash on the corners of Good Hope and Middle.

"It's a mess down here," said Marilyn Klipfel, a police dispatcher. "Somebody needs to get it cleaned."

Three police officers recently noticed the trashy lots full of empty beer bottles, paper cups and lots of other tossed-away litter while investigating a call to the crime-infested Good Hope area.

"We were down here the other night on a shooting call when we saw how filthy it is," said Cpl. Rick Price. "We thought we wanted to do something about it."

Those officers asked their colleagues to lend a hand.

"People don't see us as part of the community but we are," Price said. "We want to show that we care about the community, too. Maybe then other people will get involved."

With the exception of two officers who had been subpoenaed to testify in court, all of the officers in the platoon showed up to lend a hand.

Police picked and raked up trash and picked up trash -- lots of it. There were old beer bottles, a bicycle rim, glass and paper soda cups. When they were through there were nearly 15 large bags full of trash that was hauled off.

Klipfel said the area was picked because it was the one that needs most attention. She said it's the first time their platoon had done something like this.

"It needed to be done," said Officer Freddie Ford. "We all live here in Cape Girardeau and we want to do our part. Every little bit helps."

He said he thinks the citizens and business owners in the area will appreciate the work.

Peewee Erlbacher owns a gear and machine shop on the corner of Good Hope and Middle and he said he is grateful for what the police have done.

"I'm impressed with anybody out there picking up trash, especially during their off-time," he said.