Police Chief Chat

Drug watch: Great news, the PCSD and RPD have contacted the business in Phelps County that we know of that were selling synthetic drugs and advised them that it is now a law violation. At this time we believe they have stopped selling them. We will be checking in the near future. If you know of any that are selling please let us know so we can take the appropriate action. One comment on all you that start talking about RPD you can’t do this, there have to be laws etc... You are right and we are using the laws, have talked to the US attorney, DEA, Local PA and many others. We are taking a stand and it’s that synthetics are illegal and destroying lives.

The Rolla Police Department handled 849 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 21 arrests, 13 alarms, 20 accidents, 26 traffic complaints, 23 check the well being, 179 traffic stops, 36 disturbance (including domestics), 15 suspicious nature, 14 assists of other agencies, 6 narcotic violations, 91 security checks, 44 animal control complaints, 39 follow up investigations. This call total is up 15 calls over last week and yes, another busy week!

Recently we were contacted by a Neighborhood Watch coordinator asking us to address the most common nuisance and property maintenance violations in the City of Rolla. We decided to do a weekly posting under the title” DID YOU KNOW?” that addresses the violation and the matching city ordinance. We hope you find it useful.

DID YOU KNOW?...........The ordinance regarding trash containers and trash pickup? Sec. 18-7.

It shall be unlawful for any refuse customer to:

(a) Deposit refuse in any refuse container other than his/her own or that assigned for his/her use by the city.

(b) Accumulate or dispose of refuse in any manner or at any location which the superintendent deems a nuisance to the public health or safety.

(c) Fail to place their refuse container at the nearest street curb or street edge on the date of collection for collection purposes, except refuse customers who have provided the city with a written verification from a physician stating they are physically unable to place the refuse container at the street, in which case all refuse will be placed in securely tied plastic bags.

(d) Place the refuse container at the curb or street edge more than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the scheduled collection, or failure to remove the refuse container from the curb side or street edge to the front line of the house within twenty-four (24) hours of the day of collection. The first and second violation will result in Environmental Services Department personnel placing a notification “sticker” on the refuse container notifying the resident of the requirement to remove the container from the street edge. The third violation will result in suspension of service and Environmental Services Department personnel repossessing the refuse container. A $20.00 reinstatement fee will be charged for re-delivery of the container and reinstatement of service. (Ord. 3892. §2)

(e) Fail to place garbage in tied plastic bags prior to depositing such refuse in containers.

(f) It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to rummage through or scavenge items from any refuse or recycling container owned, serviced or maintained by the City.

(g) Place liquid waste (i.e. paint, waste oil, chemicals) in a refuse container or bags to be collected by the City.

(h) Burn, paint, or otherwise deface any refuse or recycling container owned by the City.

(i) Place bulk or loose refuse or waste items at the curb or street edge more than seventy-two (72) hours in advance of a pre-arranged collection or a scheduled semi-annual city-wide cleanup.

(j) Place hazardous, infectious or regulated waste in a refuse container that is not intended for such wastes and marked as such. Any infectious wastes generated from residential sources must be placed in a rigid leak-proof, puncture resistant container with a tight fitting lid. Infectious wastes generated from commercial sources cannot be discarded into the municipal solid waste stream unless processed and sterilized to specifications required by law. (Ord. 3768, §1) We have had several complaints over the years and we are getting them again about people posting signs such as yard sales etc… on city right of ways and telephone poles. It is illegal to do this. So please follow this rule as it is a violation of law and we might be forced to take your sign down and come to your yard sale to issue you a ticket. This is not something anyone in the Police Department wants to do, but it’s part of the job. With that being said, if you chose to continue to post a sign over the weekend, take it down right after your yard sale is over. Below is the city ordnance on signs. If anyone has a solution to the problem please let us know. I know my wife and I look for signs when going to yard sales. You can post them in the ground on people’s property if you ask them so they are not in the city right away.

Sec. 30-25. Posting - Signs on public right of way, utility poles and street sign poles-prohibited; penalty provisions.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect any sign, marker or other edifice upon any public right of way in the City of Rolla, Missouri; nor shall any person post any signs, bills or other plaque or advertisement upon any utility pole or public sign in the City of Rolla, Missouri. (b) Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five and no/100 ($25.00) dollars nor more than one hundred and no/100 ($100.00) dollars. (Ord. 2419, §§1, 2.)

Rolla Police Department employees celebrating hiring date anniversaries during the month of June are Lt. Jim Macormic who was hired in 1991, Sgt. Wayne Rapier hired 1975, Spo. Seth Walker hired 2008, Spo. Leann Robertson hired 2008 and Telecommunicator Thomas Grisham hired in 2010. Congratulations to all of you on your years of service.

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that summer school is in session and to continue to use caution when traveling in our school zones. I would also like to remind you that during the summer season bicyclists and motorcyclists are very popular and are entitled to the same respect and courtesy afforded other vehicles traveling on our roads.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse