POLICE EXECUTE DUTIES IN STEADY MANNER HERE

In the midst of a highly celebrated trial focusing on ~alleged brutality by the Los Angeles Police Department, it is tempting to turn a worried eye on the power law enforcement agencies across the national deem themselves. If it happens there, it must also be happening here, the thinking goes. Such thinking is unreasonable. Despite statistics that indicate complaints against police increased here last year, the Cape Girardeau Police Department has a reputation for appropriate conduct and for properly addressing job performance problems that arise.

Local statistics show the number of complaints against police officers in 1991 was 11. It is important to view that in the light of past numbers. True, that total is higher than it was in the seven previous years. However, the number of complaints has remained fairly stable over the course of the last decade. Since 1982, there have been 102 complaints lodged against police personnel in Cape Girardeau, an average of about 10 a year.

While any complaint against law enforcement authorities must be taken seriously (and we believe they are in this city), the numbers here are minuscule when placed in the context of the number of contacts police officers make with citizens over the course of any year. In 1991, the police department handled more than 27,000 "events," not including various officer-initiated activities. Some of those occurred in the most volatile of circumstances, with tempers running high and persons' perspectives askew. An arrest is a physical activity, sometimes more physical than officers would like. Given the circumstances of a confrontational profession, it's noteworthy that more of these complaints aren't filed. (Of the 11 filed last year, nine were ultimately determined to be "unfounded.")

The police department has a supervising officer that deals with so-called internal affairs complaints. A department manual, "Policy and Procedures, Rules and Regulations," clearly spells out what is acceptable deportment for police officers. Violations of these procedures can result in administrative action or even criminal prosecution. If persons believe they have been mistreated by the police, they are urged to come forward. In fact, they provide the city a service by doing so; the city would only be stained by having unruly police on the public payroll.

We applaud Police Chief Howard Boyd and City Manager J. Ronald Fischer for running a tight ship at 40 S. Sprigg St. We likewise applaud police officers for fulfilling their unpredictable duties in a steady manner.