Police Chief Chat

This week, the Rolla Police Department handled 699 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 29 accidents, 45 9-1-1 hang up calls, 33 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 34 traffic complaints, 87 traffic stops, 27 arrests, 15 suspicious nature calls, 23 stealing calls, 15 suspicious nature calls and 9 escorts. Yet, another busy week.

On Friday, Spo. Chrissy Smith successfully completed the Advanced Crash Investigation course offered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy in Jefferson City, Missouri. This school is an intense two-week course which focuses on the development of the officer’s skills in gathering evidence at the scene of a crash and the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics. The concepts of time, distance and the conservation of momentum are discovered in detail. Advanced Crash Investigation provides the officer with investigative techniques in technical areas including obtaining drag factors, proper use of the Northwestern Traffic Template, photographing the crash scene, and working with formulas to determine speed estimates from skids, scuffs, falls, and vaults. The officers will also learn how to prepare scale diagrams and develop field survey techniques for determining intersection angles, slopes, grades, and curve radii. Spo. Smith serves in our Traffic Division. Congratulations Chrissy!

Also on Friday of this week, our Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) bicycle patrol unit hit the road! Volunteers Larry Seest and Steve Volz joined VIPS Director Dennis Noel and VIPS Coordinator Vince Giacolone to form the special bicycle patrol unit comprised of VIPS volunteers. After some expert instruction and basic training by Dennis Noel who is not only an avid cyclist but an accomplished tri-athlete with several years of riding experience under his belt, the group were up and running and began patrolling the city parks, bike and pedestrian trails and other parts of the community. The patrol unit will promote bicycle safety and also be on the lookout for dangerous or emergency situations they come upon in these areas. Each of the VIPS patrol cars is equipped with a bicycle rack which will allow volunteers to drive to different neighborhoods, park the patrol car and begin patrolling the area. The bicycle provides a more approachable atmosphere where volunteers and citizens may personally interact for a true feeling of being on the streets. Be sure to say hello as you see our volunteers biking through your neighborhoods. Great job guys!

Next Tuesday, the Rolla Police Department will be joined by members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol at Troop I, personnel from the South Central Corrections Facility at Licking, and special guests Mayor Bill Jenks, Communications PIO Scott Grahl and his son Owen to participate in the 25th Anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is the movement's largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle, raising US$34 million for Special Olympics Programs around the world in 2008. At its most basic level, the Torch Run is an actual running event in which officers and athletes run the "Flame of Hope" to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions all over the world. Here in Rolla, the combined torch runners begin the journey at the Wal-Mart Supercenter where they carry the ceremonial torch along Bishop Avenue, to Kingshighway, west on Kingshighway to I-44 then on to the Phelps/Pulaski County line for a distance of approximately 18 miles. Runners are escorted by patrol cars from the various participating agencies along the route. They are also accompanied by the Rolla Fire and Rescue Homeland Security support vehicle which transports refreshments, first aid supplies and also provide an area for runners to re-group. Thanks to our sponsors Wal-Mart Supercenter, Pepsi-Cola of Rolla and Rolla Fire and Rescue. Thank you for helping us, help the athletes!

In closing, I would like to remind you of several upcoming events to include the Rolla Police Department annual bicycle and equipment auction that will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. in the Rolla Police Department parking lot. We will be selling unclaimed and recovered bicycles at a fraction of the cost of new, equipment and many of them are in excellent shape. If you are needing a bicycle for the summer months, be sure to stop by.

I would also like to remind you of the 3rd Annual Fire Truck Pull to be held in conjunction with Rolla’s Rt. 66 Summerfest on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. The Fire Truck Pull is an annual fundraiser hosted by the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue where teams of up to 10 members, either male or female attempt to pull a fully loaded Rolla Fire and Rescue fire truck a known distance in the best elapsed time. Costs to enter a team is $100 and all proceeds will be dedicated to the Veteran’s Memorial Park located on Southview Drive in Rolla. For more information contact: S/Sgt. Rick Williams at 308-1213.

And finally, I would like to remind you of the 1st of 3 Neighborhood Watch Zone meetings that will be held in the City of Rolla. The meetings will offer information on the Neighborhood Watch Program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) formation and the services provided by the American Red Cross. We encourage everyone to try to attend at least one of these important meetings to keep our programs in force and to be prepared in the event of a disastrous situation. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eugene E. Northern Community Hall located at 400 W. 4th St. in Rolla.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse