Have a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend

The Rolla Police Department handled 658 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 38 hang up 911 calls, 28 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 21 traffic complaints, 61 traffic stops, 24 arrests, 4 runaways, 4 benevolent fund requests, 11 destructions of property, 5 telephone harassment calls, 2 mental health calls, 1 malicious mischief, 2 fingerprint requests and 2 fight calls. This total is down 84 calls from last week.

As you know, the country will be celebrating Independence Day this weekend and the Rolla community will follow suit. Traditionally part of the celebration involves the use of fireworks over this period. If you and your family decide to take part in this activity please use caution and a little bit of common sense. Parents should monitor all fireworks use and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions when discharging the product. City ordinance under Section 14-2 of the Rolla City Code states that any individual or organization may discharge fireworks, without a permit, from July 1 to July 5 only! The discharge of fireworks during any other day of the year is prohibited. Please also remember that fireworks may not be discharged between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m., and no fireworks shall be discharged within 50 feet of any stand, booth, or other location where fireworks are being sold. It is also unlawful for anyone to discharge fireworks in City parks any day throughout the year (Section 31-1, Rolla City Code).

Another 4th of July tradition is the annual Lion’s Club Carnival. This carnival has become one of the premiere carnivals in the area and is attended each year by thousands of participants who enjoy the rides, games and of course the outstanding fireworks display that seems to get better each year. This year the 75th Annual Rolla Lions Club Carnival will be held Thursday, July 1 through Sunday, July 4. The Rolla Police Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue will be on site with the Homeland Security Mobile Command Post that will be used to provide dispatch services in the event of an injury or mishap at the park. Central Communications telecommunicators will be utilizing the on-board dispatching system to relay information back to the 9-1-1 Center. We will also have officers patrolling the site so if you need assistance or need to report unsafe activity, please contact them. And please remember that traffic congestion in the area is extremely high during the carnival and motorists need use caution when traveling in or near the Lion’s Club Park.

Over the last several weeks the Rolla Police Department has received several cases involving counterfeit money. The large majority of the bills are $100.00 and $20.00 in denomination. The bills at first glance do appear to be genuine, but upon further examination there are significant watermarks missing or altered on the bills. If a person receives a $100.00 bill as payment for anything please look at the bill thoroughly. If the bill looks questionable do not take it as payment or look for the color shifting ink, the red and blue fibers built into to the bill, or the security strip on the bill. There are several other security features on paper currency, but the three mentioned are the easiest and quickest to look for. Please don’t solely depend on a counterfeit pen as proof of the bill being genuine, as like most things in this world the pens can be fooled. If you would like further information about the security features to look for on money please go to either www.secretservice.gov or www.moneyfactory.gov.

Last week, Spo. Jaime Solis and Telecommunication Supervisor Stacey Smith attended 40 hrs. of training in Crisis Hostage Negotiation offered by the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center in Springfield, Missouri. The training provided was job specific for each officer and orchestrated from that point of view. And speaking of training, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest member to the Rolla Police Department family. Telecommunicator Tom Grisham began his employment on Tuesday of this week in the Central Communications Division. Tom will undergo several weeks of intense training on emergency dispatching for Police, Fire, EMS and many other facets of emergency response. Tom is not really new to the RPD family in that he is engaged to be married to Kandi Trentham who is a long time employee in our Records Division! Welcome aboard Tom and good luck in your training!

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

Police Chief, Mark Kearse
Rolla Police Dept.