SCHULTZ SCHOOL CHIEF'S CLUB ENDS YEAR

Thirteen-year-old Demetrius Harris walked around Capaha Park at noon Thursday proudly carrying around the hand radio of Cape Girardeau police chief Rick Hetzel.

"If they call for number one, that's you, right?" Harris asked the chief.

The chief nodded.

Harris was one of 30 seventh graders from Schultz Middle School who spent the lunch hour Thursday at the park as part of a year-end celebration of the Chief's Club.

The club is one of several programs initiated by Chief Hetzel to increase police presence in Cape Girardeau schools and in the community. Hetzel, who started a similar program when he was in Northcross, Ga., came up with the idea when he was looking for a way to mentor as many students as possible.

"For many of these kids, the only contact they might have with the police would be in a negative setting," Hetzel said.

"We try to be as positive as possible and bring the police officers closer to the kids,' he said.

To qualify for the club, students had to be nominated by teachers on the basis of good citizenship. Then, after being nominated, the students competed in an essay contest. There subject was the importance of the police in the community.

Only half of the 60 nominated students were accepted into the club. The idea behind the competition was to build self-esteem in the students by making membership in the club something special, Hetzel said.

As the students gathered under one of park shelters to eat hot dogs grilled for them by Cpl. Charlie Herbst, Hetzel reminded them of their service project. After they ate, they would plant an oak tree in the park, which, Hetzel said, would be a lasting legacy to their participation in the club.

"This will always be part of you guys," the chief said.

In addition to their service project, the students participated in a number of special events throughout the school year. Once they went as a group to a Southeast Missouri State University basketball game, where they met the players after the game. Another time they toured the police station and participated in a drug bust demonstration.

"We hope to make a difference in the kids' lives," said Christine Vetter, science teacher and faculty sponsor for the Chief's Club.

"We hope to give them a positive outlook on their community and the police department and to make them involved as citizens," she said.

The club was funded through a United Way grant, which helped purchase shirts and hats for the club members. Organizers were able to save enough of the grant money to be able to fund the program for next year. In addition, Hetzel said that the department was looking to expanding the program to parochial schools next year.

Vetter said that she has already seen the positive impact the club has had on students. A clear sign of it is that students wear the club t-shirts and hats with pride, not only when they're in school, but outside of school as well.

At least one of the students -- Demetrius Harris -- said that he plans on becoming a police officer one day.

"I might take your place some day," Harris told the chief.

"I hope so," the chief said.