Police Chief Chat

Chief Chat

This past week, the Rolla Police Department handled 735 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 24 arrests, 10 alarms, 21 accidents, 37 traffic complaints, 166 traffic stops, 27 disturbance calls (including domestics), 21 suspicious nature calls, 15 assists of other agencies, 49 911 hang up calls, 9 check the well being requests, 27 animal control calls, 21 stealing calls and 6 escort requests. This call total is up 100 calls from last week! Yet, another busy week!

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest member to the Rolla Police Department family with the introduction of Patrolman Kevin Ziegler. Kevin joined the Rolla Police Department on February 27, 2011 and will undergo 12 weeks of field training to familiarize him with the way we do business. Kevin hails from Cuba, Missouri where he graduated from Cuba High School. Kevin has served with the Hartville Police Department before joining the Rolla Police Department. Be sure to welcome him to our community when you see him around town.

• Missouri's 2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week, held March 7-11, has one goal an that is to save lives! As the threat for severe weather across the state transitions from snow and ice to severe thunderstorms and flooding, the National Weather Service, the State Emergency Management Agency and the City of Rolla Office of Emergency Management will participate in the 37th annual State Tornado Drill which is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. This statewide tornado drill will include the sounding of the city's Emergency Warning System outdoor sirens. Remember this is only a drill and no action will need to be taken! In the event of inclement weather, the drill will be held at a later date. The drill is designed to trigger the community into thinking of emergency preparedness as we enter into the Spring season. We will also conduct our regular monthly siren test which we do on the first Wednesday of the month, which falls on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011. So expect to hear the sirens this week and again next week! Remember, these are only tests in an effort to allow you, the community to practice safe severe weather action.

In just a couple weeks the Spring season will be upon us and along with the warmer temperatures comes the increased threat of severe weather such as tornadoes, heavy winds and rain, hail and flash flooding. As you know, on New Year’s Eve of 2010 we experienced a serious tornado storm that travelled through Phelps county causing heavy property damage resulting in the death of 4 persons. Fortunately for us, the City of Rolla was spared. The seriousness of this type of storm was realized by many who in the past may have never witnessed such devastation and destruction. Almost immediately after the storm passed through, citizens were scrambling to try and formulate an emergency plan for their families in the event that this type of situation returns. Local governmental agency heads took a good hard look at the current emergency warning systems and also reviewed the current emergency operation plans, looking for ways to improve communication to the public. Some citizens voiced concerns over the availability of safe shelters for those who reside in mobile homes or structures without a basement.

I spoke with S/Sgt. Rick Williams who is the Emergency Management Director for the City of Rolla. I learned through those discussions that currently there are no identified emergency shelters available pre-event to those in need of shelters below ground. The shelters that are made available are mostly designated as either “cooling” or “warming” shelters established for use in the event that residents are without power for an extended period of time or displaced following severe weather. The shelters named are the 1st Assembly of God Church located in the 1500 block of N. Oak., the 1st Baptist Church at 10th and Cedar, the Rolla Recreation Centre, and depending on the situation, the Community Hall and the Ft. Wyman Elementary School gym have been considered. Please realize these shelters are only opened after the fact, and when there is a need in the case of power outages, extreme heat or cold or storm displacement.

It is recommended that prior to a severe weather “watch” or “warning”, that those residents who reside in either mobile homes or structures without basements, will need to make contact with friends, family or other sources and develop a plan for themselves and their families to secure a designated safe location to report to in the event of severe weather. As you know a severe weather “watch” simply means to watch the sky as conditions may be right for producing more severe storms capable of becoming dangerous. A severe weather “warning” means that severe dangerous weather is already upon us and to take “immediate” shelter! As you must realize, when a severe weather warning is broadcast, there is not much time to react and trying to find a suitable shelter at this time is dangerous. Establish the location now, when the weather is calm and plan the most direct route to that location for you and your family. Your preparation for safety is only limited by your imagination. Remember, if you expect the unexpected, the unexpected will never occur!

Next weekend the City of Rolla and Missouri S&T will take part in the 103rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration which is projected to be the “best ever.” Lt. Jim Macormic has the responsibility of drafting the annual “Operational Plan” to accommodate all of the scheduled events. Typical officer assignments cover the downtown parade, band shell concert, St. Pat’s Court escort, Frat party security and many other functions. Our officers will be along the parade route to ensure the safety of the spectators and parade participants. In addition the Rolla Police Department will be conducting a DWI Saturation over the next week due to a grant provided by the Division of Highway Safety.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse