Foot patrols discourage crime downtown

If you were downtown last weekend, you might have noticed the Cape Girardeau Police Department was a little more involved than usual. Specifically, they were out of their cruisers, doing foot patrols.

The first patrols were conducted last Friday and Saturday nights. Officers were again out during the St. Patrick's Day pub crawl last night.

According to a story by Southeast Missourian reporter Tyler Graef, foot patrols have been a goal of police chief Wes Blair for some time, but funding and manpower obstacles kept the patrols from being implemented.

The department is now able to fund the patrols thanks to the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District, which has offered to cover the officers' wages for their patrol time. Glueck said officers are paid hourly at an overtime rate during foot-patrol duty.

"From what I was told, it was extremely successful," Blair said of the first weekend's patrols. "We had some good interaction between citizens and officers."

Officer Jon Ortmann said about 50 people stopped to thank him and officer Brian Eggers for their presence. Only one intoxicated man had to be taken into protective custody.

The hope is that the more visible presence of police officers on our downtown streets will discourage crime, which will in turn make everyone -- downtown patrons and business owners alike -- feel safer.

Thanks to the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District for making these patrols possible.