CRIME BILL'S FUNDING WILL COST IN THE END

The new crime bill has earmarked $115,000 for Cape Girardeau over the next three years to hire two community policing officers. But the city won't be able to take advantage of the money until next summer due to lack of matching money. The city must pay 25 percent of the cost, or nearly $40,000. Eventually, cities and counties will have to bear the total cost of these new officers.

President Clinton's pledge of 100,000 new officers on the streets just isn't the panacea it was made out to be. How many other departments -- strapped for cash -- will be unable to come up with matching money?

Nationwide about $200 million has been awarded so far to 300 cities and counties to hire more officers. In Missouri, that will mean 16 new officers, including the two in Cape Girardeau.

Big deal.

This is just another reminder of why the crime bill leaves such a bad taste.