STUDY WILL SHED LIGHT ON COPS

Cape Girardeau will get more for its $43,000 than a simple look at police department turnover rates, officials say, deflecting criticism that the city is paying too much for an outside firm to examine why officers are leaving the force.

The Police Executive Research Forum, a non-profit firm based in Washington, D.C., this month will begin a comprehensive study of the workings of the Cape Girardeau Police Department. By late spring, the firm will present a report to city officials.

Interest in such a study developed after six officers with an average of 27 years of service retired or left the force in 2000. However, the research forum has been contracted to look at all aspects of the police department's operations.

"The turnover rate is what has generated interest in a study like this," City Manager Michael Miller said. "But they're taking a complete, overall look at the department. They're trying to get at the overall problems and overall solutions that affect a long period of time instead of a short period of time."

Miller said the research forum has excellent qualifications to help the police department and the city build a map for the future.

Recommendations made by the research forum will be used to not only evaluate the department's internal operations but for planning capital improvements such as new facilities and deciding what equipment to upgrade.

"With the quality of the firm we're dealing with, we would hope to move ahead with their recommendations," Miller said. "There will be recommendations on a lot of different levels."

According to its contract with the city, the research forum will examine community influences on the police force, department organization and management, field operations and support services.

A draft report should be submitted to the city manager about three months after the company finishes its research in Cape Girardeau. A final report should be submitted to the Cape Girardeau City Council by summer.

The cost of the study is $43,569, which will be paid out of the city's Cash-Drug Forfeiture Account. Money from the forfeiture account can't be used for salaries, which are in the city's budget.

Currently, the account has about $100,000 in it, Police Chief Rick Hetzel said, adding that the money typically is used to match police-related grants or buy special equipment.

'Department is worth it'

Although Miller understands $43,000 may sound like a lot of money for a study, he believes it is warranted. "People get shocked by that, but it's just to cover the costs," he said. "It is a one-time operation, but we feel the police department is worth it, and this is really a positive step over there."

Hetzel said he intends to take the company's recommendations seriously and pursue any avenues that could lead to a better operation in the community and within the department.

"The issues we deal with here are similar to issues police departments across the nation deal with," he said. "The management study is going to look at our current operation and give us some ideas on how we can improve, how we can better address the needs of the community and how we can obtain resources for our employees and the department."

With so many officers leaving the force in such a short period, many are looking for a culprit. The study may be able to shed light on the problem, but city officials stress that is not its sole purpose.

"We're having this study done for two reasons," Miller said. "No. 1, it can bring a fresh look into something that we're not able to bring. No. 2, this firm can bring in expertise that we don't have."

Turnover not uncommon

Miller said numerous factors could play into the turnover rate. A national trend indicates police departments all over the country are losing officers to better-paying, less stressful jobs. Attractive retirement plans, which Miller said the city also offers, may also cause officers to leave the force.

Additionally, there could be a morale problem among employees caused by any number of conditions such as cramped facilities in the department's Sprigg Street building.

With that in mind, the company will distribute anonymous questionnaires and conduct face-to-face, confidential interviews with employees to ascertain morale levels.

"I realize a lot of people think all we have to do is give people raises and they'll be happy," Miller said. "That's just not true."

City councilmen Richard Eggimann, Frank Stoffregen and Jay Purcell have eluded during public meetings to rumored personality conflicts between Hetzel and former officers. In addition, at least one former officer has publicly said he disagreed with the department's fitness policy, leading him to retire from the force.

Hetzel said he wants only to see the department improve, which is why he has implemented policies such as physical fitness standards and open-door communication.

"Recently, there have been those who have disagreed with some of the contemporary management policies and practices that have been implemented by me," he said. "The fact that people disagree with me is not something I enjoy, but it is the reality of the job I have been hired to do."

Other departments studied

The company has done police department management studies for communities in Lakewood, Colo., Oakland and San Jose, Calif., Lake Park, Fla., and University Circle, Ohio.

Deputy Police Chief Ron Norris at Medford, Ore., said his police force contracted with the company to do a management study about four or five years ago. "It's not a bad thing to have one done every five to seven years," Norris said. "It's a good idea, and the company is highly qualified."

Norris, who has been with the Medford police force for 23 years, said company representatives interviewed staff and looked at the organization's structure. He said they also talked to city staff and to citizens about their perceptions of the police department.

He said the Medford department consists of about 150 employees, 94 of which are police officers. Cape Girardeau has a staff of around 100, with about 70 police officers.

Norris said he believes the Medford study, which cost around $25,000, was worth every penny.

POINTS TO BE COVERED IN POLICE STUDY

The Police Executive Research Forum soon will begin a comprehensive study of the workings of the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Specifically, the firm will look at:

* Population trends, land-use patterns and residential, commercial and industrial development.

* Type and frequency of routine and emergency demands.

* Relationships between the department and city officials, departments, civic groups and other agencies.

* Bureaus, units and divisions, and the personnel allocated to them.

* Staff relationships.

* Chain of command among management, staff and others.

* Goals and objectives.

* Procedures for dealing with natural disasters, riots, demonstrations and tactical situations.

* Budget development.

* Compliance with rules, regulations procedures.

* Labor-management relations.

* Policies relating to physical conditioning and appearance, training, career development, promotion, evaluation and compensation.

* Staffing, organization, assignments, scheduling and deployment, investigative procedures, crime scene investigation techniques and evidence collection.

* Community service programs.

* Records management.

* Use of state-of-the-art technology.

* Radio and telephone communications.

* Equipment and facility needs, including adequacy, location and maintenance of existing facilities, vehicle and equipment maintenance and capital planning policies.