Police crackdown is making streets safer

Since Steve Strong, a longtime member of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, took over as chief last year, there's been a noticeable difference regarding at least two nuisances that have plagued Cape Girardeau for years: blocking of traffic by persons walking in the middle of the street and persons gathering in the street for loud, impromptu, late-night parties.

Time and again, Strong has been before the city council to talk about the number of summonses issued under the city's ordinances against excessive noise and against blocking traffic.

While there's nothing wrong with having a good time or walking where you want for the most part, the American system of laws is based on the fact that individual freedoms are limited by the rights of all.

When a person walks in the middle of the road, he is encroaching on the right of motorists to use the street in the way it was intended. And when a group gathers in the street for a raucous party, it is ending the right of neighborhood residents to get a good night's sleep and wake rested for their responsibilities the next day.

The latest part of Strong's effort has been restricting access to parts of four blocks on Morgan Oak and Ellis streets in the wee hours of Saturday and Sunday morning.

The practice for some patrons is to leave bars that close at 1:30 a.m. in Cape Girardeau and then head to Don's Store 24 at the corner of Morgan Oak and Sprigg streets for a late-night bite.

Once they have eaten, people tend to gather on the nearby streets to keep the party going, waking up the law-abiding people who want to get their sleep.

So the police are closing those sections of street from 1:30 to 2:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays to prevent those activities, only allowing motorists who can prove they live in the affected area. Strong said the practice will continue until the problem goes away.

Neighbors disagree on the benefits of the program, although those against it almost certainly are in the minority. One woman said she felt her rights were violated. Three men said they welcomed the police involvement.

The real praise goes to Don Caldwell, owner of Don's Store 24, who has agreed to close from 1:15 to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays to discourage the street activity. That means he's losing sales during those 45 minutes, but he's agreed to do what it takes to clean up the area. Of course, less hubbub on the street near his business eventually is going to result in a better neighborhood situation, so ultimately the result could be positive for him.

Unfortunately, the trend has been for groups such as the one police are targeting to move elsewhere once one gathering spot is shut down. It appears Strong has the fortitude to continue the battle for safe, calm streets as long as it takes.