HIGGINS HAD AN IMPACT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE

In fables of the Old West, a lawman was brought in to clean up some troubled town. Welcome to the 1990s: Progress in law enforcement is meted out in small measures. It is seldom the case that an individual single-handedly makes a sweeping contribution to criminal justice. However, Stephen Higgins did. The departing U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri took extraordinary steps to upgrade law enforcement in this part of the state, and we commend his efforts.

Since being appointed to the U.S. attorney's job in St. Louis by President Bush, Mr. Higgins has shown several distinguishing traits. One is a serious dislike for persons who break laws. Another is a decidedly non-bureaucratic view of the world; a solution to a problem need not fit a pre-determined "government way" of doing things. Finally, Mr. Higgins saw a potential for doing good things in Southeast Missouri, where his predecessors missed an opportunity.

The most significant achievement that outlasts his term in office (he also believes this to be the case) is creation of a satellite office in Cape Girardeau to handle cases in Southeast Missouri. In two years on the job, the two assistant U.S. attorneys in the Cape Girardeau office have opened cases on 120 people in a wide range of criminal activities. In particular, Mr. Higgins' approach to his position engendered a cooperative atmosphere that fostered unparalleled cooperation among law enforcement agencies in dealing with drug cases. The impact is considerable on offenders; the presence of federal jurisdiction chills even the boldest of narcotics dealers.

With his departure from office (President Clinton has appointed Edward Dowd to the post), Mr. Higgins returns to private practice and the satellite office keeps plugging along. While it is unlikely that the office will be expanded in the coming years, it is also unlikely (thanks primarily to its production and efficiency) that the office will be closed. The good work will continue, a legacy to Stephen Higgins and his commitment to law enforcement in this region. His contributions will be missed.