SHADOW OF DRUGS AND VIOLENCE FALLS UPON US

Wednesday morning, in Sikeston, a major meeting was convened at city hall. Purpose: to discuss gravely serious public safety problems that have arisen in that and other southeast Missouri communities. Present at the unprecedented meeting were federal, state and local officials representing law enforcement, together with a wide spectrum of mayors, school superintendents and interested citizens, from Charleston to Poplar Bluff, from Jackson and Cape Girardeau to Kennett and Caruthersville. Presiding were top officials from the United States Department of Justice regional office (in Kansas City), along with Terry Knowles, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Col. Fred Mills, Superintendent of the Missouri Highway Patrol was there with several of his top lieutenants.

In May, hearing horrifying stories out of Sikeston, I had corralled Director Knowles in the Senate chamber, briefed him on what I had heard and asked him to contact local law enforcement officials in Sikeston to see what assistance might be offered. Simultaneously, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson had written Ed Dowd, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, expressing the gravity of the situation, one which threatened to overwhelm municipal and county law enforcement people. Wednesday's meeting was an outgrowth of these contacts.

What I had heard out of Sikeston was that there was verified gang activity growing in that community, accompanied by an ever-more flourishing drug trade; that recently a fight at the junior high school turned nasty, involving 20-30 youngsters, requiring a response from no fewer than eight police cars; and that there had been instances of police responding to calls who had been assaulted by citizens upon their arrival. In one instance, a police cruiser was fired on six times duing a high-speed chase; in another, the police cruiser was rammed, nearly killing the police officer, and when an ambulance arrived to minister to both the injured officer and the alleged criminal, local citizens prevented emergency medical technicians from aiding the seriously injured officer. He didn't get help until back-up units arrived to secure the scene.

Wednesday morning, Sikeston Chief of Public Safety James Leist rose to his feet and spoke with tremendous gravity of a dangerous cycle of violence. "I have been in this (police) business 22 years, and I have never before seen such complete lawlessness, such total disrespect for authority, such utter disregard for property or for any form of law enforcment, or even any sense of morality. We have a terribly serious situation that has to be addressed. In a certain neighborhood, I had an officer writing a citation, who was struck from behind, hit in the head with a bottle and knocked unconscious."

Dr. Duane Voltmer, a long-time high school principal now working as a gang expert with the state department of Public Safety, mesmerized the crowd with a 30-minute, community-by-community survey of the extensive gang activity -- or suspected activity -- across Missouri. Cape Girardeau residents who believe we don't have this problem are in for an education. Dr. Voltmer said he had recently spent time touring the city with Police Chief Howard Boyd (also present at the Sikeston meeting), and had seen unmistakable graffiti signifying a variety of well-known and identifiable gangs, including the famous ones out of Los Angeles and Chicago.

As the meeting wore on, the bad news crept across the room like a darkening shadow. One after another, they told their tales: a school superintendent ("arson") would be followed by a police chief ("open drug sales"), or by a sheriff ("drive-by shootings"). The state and federal officials were there to listen, and to help.

Atkins Warren, from the U.S. Department of Justice in Kansas City, asked assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Ferrell to head up a committee that would work with all present to coordinate a combined response to these unprecedented problems. Volunteers to serve on this committee were solicited; 15 or 20 of the 60 or so present reponded, including Cape School Superintendent Neyland Clark, who was present along with new Central High principal Dr. Dan Tallent and his assistant, Mark Ruark.

After two hours, the group took a break and many of us had a chance to visit. Director Knowles took me aside. He told me that, "something really good might well come out of this." He said something about the possibility of six million dollars in federal money, to match 75-25 with state and local funds, for more drug officers and beefed-up staffing. I pledged my all-out support, in any way possible.

We'll try to keep you posted on further developments. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed, and say a prayer for front-line southeast Missouri law enforcement pros, daily risking their lives during some of the most harrowing days and nights we've ever seen.

Peter Kinder is associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian. He represents the 27th district in the Missouri Senate.