Police Chief Chat

This week, the Rolla Police Department handled 738 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 30 accidents, 48 9-1-1 hang up calls, 36 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 21 traffic complaints, 32 assists of other agencies, 116 traffic stops, 32 arrests, 7 fingerprints, 15 suspicious nature calls, 88 information requests and 13 stealing reports.

On Thursday at 10:47 a.m., the First Community Bank at Cuba reported an armed robbery by a male individual that matched the description of the robber who has committed 5 similar robberies of banks in Central Missouri over the past year. The male suspect left the scene in a white mini-van which is what was also reported as the suspect vehicle in the other crimes. Immediately, officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Crawford County Sheriff’s Dept., Cuba Police Department, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Rolla Police Department and other surrounding agencies began a massive search for this elusive criminal by setting up at key locations along major and secondary thoroughfares. Most agencies already had photos of this suspect and were familiar with the white Dodge mini-van used at each robbery, because of the frequency with which he struck.

Banks in Moberly, Sedalia, Rolla, Chillicothe, and Eldorado Springs were robbed by a middle aged, heavy set, white male who wore a ball cap, sunglasses and displayed a small handgun before demanding cash. In each case, a white Dodge Grand Caravan was seen in the area of the robberies and in some cases, complete or partial license plate numbers were obtained and investigated. The robbers lack of concern over being identified and the radius in which he struck, naturally led investigators to believe that he did not live in any of the towns where the banks were robbed but probably lived within a 50-60 mile radius of the planned robberies. Up until the Cuba robbery, law enforcement had been unsuccessful in apprehending this dangerous culprit but seemed to know that it would only be a matter of time before he was caught.

On Thursday, after area officers had been in position approximately one hour, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman assigned to Dent County, had been patrolling an area south of St. James in hope of spotting the robber attempting to flee the area. As the Highway Patrolman passed through the intersection of Hwy 68 and 8, he spotted a white Dodge Grand Caravan, traveling north on Hwy 68, with a lone male driver who matched the description of the Cuba bank robbery suspect. The trooper called in the sighting and his location then remained behind the vehicle until back up officers arrived. The driver of the van was stopped south of St. James and the subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a loaded handgun, stolen currency from the First Community Bank in Cuba and the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. The van and contents were seized and towed to the Missouri State Highway Patrol headquarters at Troop I in Rolla. The suspect was also transported to Troop I, where investigators from several agencies continued the investigation. This is great news for not only the citizens of Cuba but to all the victim communities and potential victims in Central Missouri. This guy needed to be caught. Great work to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and all other law enforcement agencies dedicated to this apprehension!

Last week, Lt. Doug James attended the Cooper Institute Law Enforcement Fitness Center in Dallas, Texas to become a certified Fitness Specialist. Lt. James underwent 40 hours of training on Fitness and Wellness, Coronary Risk Factors, Medical Screening, Exercise and Safety, Anatomy and Kinesiology, Physical Fitness Training in Law Enforcement and Physical Fitness Standards in Law Enforcement. Lt. James coordinates and administers our annual physical fitness training (pt test) and will also be creating a physical fitness standard to be used in our hiring process in the very near future.

After receiving several inquiries, I decided to announce our annual bicycle auction will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Rolla Police Headquarter’s parking lot. We will be auctioning unclaimed or abandoned bicycles we have recovered within the past year. Typically there is in excess of 50 bicycles in various stages of functionality, and many times all they need is minor maintenance or repairs. With Spring upon us, this would be a great time to get a good bike for a great price and get out and get some fresh air and exercise.

We are gearing up for our annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics. On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 area law enforcement officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the South Central Correctional Center at Licking, the 92 MP Brigade at Ft. Leonard Wood and the Rolla Police Department gather at the Walmart Supercenter and carry the ceremonial torch along a designated route leading to the annual Summer Games held in Springfield, Missouri. 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, state/provincial Games, and National Summer or Winter Games. Every two years, law enforcement officers from around the world gather to carry the "Flame of Hope" in a Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg in honor of the Special Olympics World Summer or World Winter Games. The Rolla Police Department has participated in the Torch Run since 1988 and also hosts other events each year in support of our Special Olympic Athletes, such as our t-shirt sales and our annual Torch Run Trivia Night held in October. This year we would like to also thank our sponsors, Rolla Fire and Rescue, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Pepsi Bottling Company of Rolla and of course our Special Olympic athletes!

In closing, I would like to thank the newly appointed 9-1-1 Board for their attendance that April Communications Meeting held at the Rolla Police Department this past week. The se quarterly meetings are held to provide an opportunity for all associated agencies to meet and discuss the ever changing needs, philosophies and challenges that face an Emergency 9-1-1 Center. 6 of the 7 newly appointed 9-1-1 Board Members were present and had the opportunity to meet with Department Heads from most area law enforcement, fire and rescue and emergency medical services agencies. Also present were members of the Phelps County Commission and municipal leaders.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

D.R.E.A.M. Kick-Off meeting provides compass for future

With all of the private investment (over $5 million) and revitalization of some of the key buildings and businesses in Rolla’s downtown business district and the development of Benton Square in the new Arts and Entertainment District (over $3 million invested), it’s hard not to notice the significant strides that are being made in Rolla, Missouri.

Not coincidentally, that perception was made as well by Russell Volmert, Associate Director with Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV), who is the Project Manager for the DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) Initiative program for the state of Missouri. Russell and his team were doing some field work in the downtown business district and Arts and Entertainment District while they were in Rolla last week to facilitate the DREAM. Kick-off meeting held at City Hall on April 22.

The DREAM Kick-off meeting follows the initial Scope of Services meeting held for the City of Rolla, on Jan. 29, 2010 at the Office of the Missouri Development Finance Board in Jefferson City. During the Kick-off meeting, which was attended by numerous downtown business owners, developers, investors, and officials from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and various city, county and state officials, Mr. Volmert and his team provided an overview of the DREAM Initiative tasks for Rolla they are working on. Some of the initiatives include: Organizational Structure Review, Project Administration, Community/Consumer Surveys, Land Use, Building, and Infrastructure Survey, Retail Market Analysis, Housing Market Analysis and Financial Assistance Evaluation. Other long-term activities included the Marketing Plan, Downtown Strategic Plan, and Communications Plan. As part of the Organizational Structure Review, the team is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the entities involved in Rolla’s downtown, including the City of Rolla, Missouri S&T, Rolla Downtown Business Association, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Meramec Regional Planning Commission. Russell stated that successful revitalization requires planning and strategic implementation by many organizations.

The community surveys that will be conducted during the upcoming Route 66 Summerfest and other community events will be used to identify and validate issues regarding downtown, and help establish the framework for future direction of the DREAM Initiative.

Russell explained that the DREAM Initiative is a project that allows Missouri communities to access technical and financial assistance for downtown revitalization, and at the same time provides the expertise and assistance for smaller Missouri communities to have their downtowns function on a more sophisticated and competitive level. He further elaborated on the goals of the DREAM Initiative, which are to re-establish the properties in the downtown core, increase property values and sales tax opportunities, re-establish a sense of place and cultural heritage in the heart of the community, and attract new private investment and jobs. Russell also provided an overview of the sponsoring State of Missouri agencies for the DREAM Initiative, which includes the Missouri Development Finance Board, Missouri Department of Economic Development, and Missouri Housing Development Commission.

Looking further along the 3-year project, which very likely could be condensed and shortened because of all the preliminary planning, research, and field work that has been done over by the City’s Community Development Department and Rolla Downtown Business Association, Russell explained the purpose of creating a Marketing Plan for the downtown business district. The marketing plan will include a strategy to promote downtown as a viable, commercial, business, civic and entertainment center for the city, and create an image of downtown to attract customers, investors and new businesses. The Downtown Strategic Plan will provide a 5-10 year vision for creative and positive change for downtown Rolla.

In closing, I would like to extend a special thanks to the City’s Community Development Department, and Russ Volmert and his team for helping to host the DREAM Initiative Kick-off Meeting, and to Alex’s Pizza (located at 8th and Pine), for providing pizza for the meeting. For more information about the DREAM Initiative, please visit www.dream.mo.gov, or contact John Petersen, the City’s Director of Community Development at 426-6970 or at jpetersen@rollacity.org.

Input from community welcomed and encouraged

The City of Rolla continues to welcome and encourage input and feedback from our residents and the Rolla community. That is why the Rolla City Council welcomes comments from citizens and visitors alike during the Citizen Communication portion of every City Council meeting.

In addition, the City Council recently extended the invitation to various community partners such as businesses, corporations, associations and service clubs to periodically make presentations during City Council meetings. The first such presentation was given at Monday night’s City Council meeting by one of the community’s well known residents and businessmen, Jim Sowers, who is president of the Rolla Community Development Corporation (R.C.D.C.). Mr. Sowers gave about a 10-15 minute overview of the R.C.D.C., its history, mission, goals and purpose. His presentation was very well received by the City Council, and I hope it was as beneficial to our citizens as it was to the City Council.

Other community partners who have been invited to make special presentations during Council meetings include Fort Leonard Wood, the Rolla Downtown Business Association, Rolla Animal Control, Rolla Public Schools, County-wide Communications 911 Committee, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla Library Board, Community Partnership, and Missouri S&T. Other community partners who also have been invited to make presentations include: Holloway House, ACORN, Brewer Science, MoSci Corporation, University Extension Office, Licking Tournament, Coachlite Lanes, Rolla Lions Club, Audubon Society, U.S.G.S., U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Division of Geology and Land Survey, and elected officials who could periodically provide legislative updates.

In addition to providing input during the Council meetings, which are held the first and third Monday of the month in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall, there are suggestion boxes located in the lobbies of City Hall and at The Centre, Rolla’s Health and Recreation Complex (located at 1200 N. Holloway Street). Comment sheets are available next to the suggestion boxes so you can either take them with you or write down your comments while remaining anonymous if you wish to. You can be assured that all of the comments received are promptly reviewed and will remain confidential. If you would like a reply from City Administration or The Centre regarding your comments, please include your name and contact information such as a home phone number or e-mail address, so we can get in touch with you.

I am also available to meet with residents and members of the community at my office at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm Street) on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Please feel free to stop by my office on the third floor, or contact Millie Street, the City Administrator’s Executive Secretary, to make an appointment to visit with me as well.

In closing, I’d like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Rolla Municipal General Election and for your vote on April 6. I am very much looking forward to working with the new City Council. It was my privilege and honor to welcome both new and returning City Council members at Monday night’s City Council meeting and to present Certificates of Appreciation plaques to outgoing Council members Sue Eudaly and Donna Hawley for their dedicated service to the City and Rolla community. Updated information and photos of the Rolla City Council is available on the City’s Website at http://www.rollacity.org/admin/council.shtm#members.

Police Chief Chat

This week, we handled 821 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 24 accidents, 51 - 9-1-1 hang up calls, 29 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 38 traffic complaints, 18 assists of other agencies, 190 traffic stops, 39 arrests, 3 missing or runway persons and 3 abandoned vehicles. So, as you can see, another busy week!

Also this week, in an effort to clear an abundance of Rolla Municipal arrest warrants, Central Dispatch has issued a challenge to each shift of the Patrol Division to attempt to clear by service, as many of the warrants as they can before the deadline of May 15th. So far, the telecommunicators are in the lead with 10 warrants cleared as compared to the Patrol Division’s 3. We will keep you posted on the progress. Rolla Municipal warrants are arrest warrants issued by the municipal court for defendants charged with a violation of Rolla city ordinances.

On Wednesday of this week, Cpt. Jason Smith and Lt. Jim Macormic traveled to Springfield, Missouri for the annual Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) Employment Practices Seminar. The seminar covered topics having to do with Police Personnel Management such as Hiring and Firing, Employee Discipline, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination, Employee Rights and Expectations and many other topics. Guest speakers on the preceding topics included Vanessa Cavalla who is the account executive for the HELPLINE program for MIRMA, W. Dudley Carter, who is a principle in the St. Louis based law firm of Behr, McCarter and Potter, P.C., and Richard Behr of the same firm who has over 17 years of experience defending professional negligence cases including medical and legal malpractice. The seminar was a one day event hosted by MIRMA.

At last Monday’s City Council meeting we had the opportunity to say goodbye to retiring city council members, Ward 3 Representative Sue Eudaly and Ward 6 representative Donna Hawley! I would like to personally thank each of these women for their time and dedicated service to not only the citizens in their respective Wards, but also to the entire City of Rolla. Thank you ladies for your service. We also had the opportunity to welcome 2 newly elected council members Geoffrey Horning who will be representing Ward 3 and to Tony Bahr who will be representing Ward 6. We welcome you to city government and appreciate your interest in serving the citizens of Rolla. Welcome aboard! In other business, the city council approved to allow the Rolla Police Department to apply for several Missouri Department of Transportation grants, which will enable the police department to conduct driving while intoxicated enforcement operations, hazardous moving violation enforcement operations and also provide funding for necessary equipment such as radar units, in-car camera systems and possibly traffic enforcement vehicles. In 2009 the Rolla Police Department received $25,000.00 in traffic grants. This year we received $45,000 in grants and for 2011 our requests will exceed $95,000.00

In support of Operation F.R.I.E.N.D (Forming Relationships in Each Neighborhood) and the Neighborhood Watch Program we will be announcing dates and locations of our upcoming Town Hall Neighborhood Watch/CERT informational exchange meetings. For Operation F.R.I.E.N.D. the entire city was divided up into 32 individual “beats” or districts and then an officer was assigned to each district. The focus of the operation was for each officer to become familiar with the layout, citizenry and day to day life practice of the residents within the district. The officer would spend as much time as possible in their assigned areas to be better in tune with what criminal element the area was most susceptible to realize. These 32 districts were then included in much larger Neighborhood Watch “Zones” that were created by dividing the City of Rolla into 3 somewhat equal areas. During the month of May, we will hold a Neighborhood Watch/CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) meeting in each of the 3 “Zones” that are free and open to the public. Topics discussed will be the Neighborhood Watch Program, the advantages, philosophies and why they work, and also to introduce the CERT program that will offer training to everyday citizens such as Fire Safety, Disaster Medical Operations and Light Search and Rescue Operations. We hope we can better prepare a core group of citizens to be ready to take action in the event of a catastrophic situation where professional emergency services responders may not be able to be on scene immediately! We will announce the Town Hall meeting dates and locations next week!

In closing, we would like to recognize and congratulate this week’s Employee Spotlight Amanda Jones! Up until Saturday, Amanda was known as Amanda Rogers! On Saturday she married Ron Jones who is an officer with the St. James Police Department. Amanda and Ron stay busy with Ron’s daughter Allie and Amanda’s nieces Cadey and Elizabeth. Amanda is a graduate of St. James High School and most of her family lives in Vichy, Missouri. Amanda does a great job keeping everything under control on the evening shift. Though she has only been here since July of 2008, Amanda has progressed quickly. Amanda does a great job with her callers and is able to keep her cool through the most stressful situations. She has had the misfortune of working in dispatch the night her house caught on fire. Though she did not take the initial call, you can imagine how stressful that must have been. She was able to keep her cool and continue working until we could get a back - up dispatcher in to take over for her! She is truly a professional and we are proud to have her on our Central Communications team!

We would like to congratulate the new Mr. & Mrs. Ron Jones and we wish them both the best!

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

City’s online presence expands with Facebook, Twitter and Blogs

The City of Rolla’s dynamic online presence is growing from our original Website to include Blogs, Facebook and Twitter, which can all be reached from the City’s official Website at www.rollacity.org.

In addition to providing residents and visitors alike with timely, up-to-date information regarding City news and events, a lot of these new online venues provide a more interactive forum, which allows feedback and dialogue to occur.

If you are not yet a fan of the City’s new Facebook page, I encourage you to join by simply visiting the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org and clicking on the blue Facebook icon, which is half way down on the right hand side. Just click on the Facebook icon and it will take you directly to the City of Rolla’s Facebook page where you can follow the City’s latest Facebook posts and conversations. You can likewise click on the Twitter icon and Blog icon and follow the City on Twitter and all of the blogs we post on a regular basis. The “F.T.B.” icon combination greatly expands the City’s communication offerings, and reflects the City’s continued efforts to keep our residents and community abreast of City services, programs, events, news, while also providing an opportunity for readers to comment and give feedback on posts.

City departments such as Police, Fire and Rescue, Animal Control, and The Centre, have had an expanded online presence on Facebook for many months – all with growing fan bases, and can all be reached from their various department Web pages, which you can access from the City’s Website at www.rollaicty.org.
In closing I’d like to remind everyone that the 2010 “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” is just around the corner on April 19 through April 25. The Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday encourages the purchase of certain qualifying energy efficient appliances by exempting them for sales tax, and thereby reducing the consumer’s cost for such appliances. Qualifying appliances, which must be Energy Star certified, include clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers. An Energy Star certified appliance is any appliance approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

I’d also like to remind everyone that the Environmental Services Department will once again be participating in the 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration on Thursday, April 22. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Missouri S&T Havener Center. This year’s theme is “Be Green, Keep our Planet Clean.” Rolla Earth Day Celebration is a free event that includes children’s activities, educational exhibits, live music, door prizes and more.

I hope you are enjoying the wonderful spring weather we have been having, and taking full advantage of the City’s 31 parks, 11-mile pedestrian/bike trail system, and the 1.3 million-acre Mark Twain National Forest that surrounds our great community.

Police Chief Chat

Another busy week in that we handled 758 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 23 accidents, 60 9-1-1 hang up calls, 34 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 44 traffic complaints, 18 assists of other agencies, 10 fingerprint requests, 4 transient aids, 93 traffic stops, 29 arrests and 22 suspicious nature calls. I worked evening shift last night so that I could see what’s going on and to be with the troops. When I came in at 2:30 pm, the Narcocs Unit had already seized two separate meth labs. We then served a search warrant for a stolen weapon at 5:00 pm and seized more drugs. A second search warrant was executed on a meth lab on Heller street at 6:00 p.m., netting 3 arrests. And finally, a third search warrant was served on Bray at 11:00 pm, where methamphetamine and meth lab items were seized and one suspect arrested. So in all, four meth labs were taken down yesterday, seven suspects were arrested and a stolen gun was recovered! Special thanks to our Narcotics Unit on a job well done.

This week, we will be honoring two very special facets of the Rolla Police Department our Central Communications Division and the Animal Control Division. For Central Communications this week is “National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week” where each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. It was first conceived by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff's Office in 1981 and was observed only at that agency for three years. Members of the Virginia and North Carolina chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) became involved in the mid-1980s. By the early 1990s, the national APCO organization convinced Congress of the need for a formal proclamation. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced what became H.J. Res. 284 to create "National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week." According to Congressional procedure, it was introduced twice more in 1993 and 1994, and then became permanent, without the need for yearly introduction. If you follow our FaceBook site or read this column you will know firsthand why this group of dedicated men and women deserve recognition. These true professionals work around the clock 24/7 taking emergency calls and directing the proper agency response. They work weekends, holidays and birthdays covering rotating shifts over a 24 hour period and are expected to perform their duties professionally whether it is 2:00 p.m. or 4:00 a.m. Here is a list of the telecommunicators that serve you in Central Dispatch: Paula Volkmer, Stayce Smith, Scott Olds, Chuck Satterfield, Amy King, Tabitha Stanley, Tony Craft, Matt Goss, Jamie Jones, Susan Vogeler, Alicia Hill, Trina Duarte, Amanda Rogers and Clint Capps. Thank you for all you do!

Coincidentally, this week also happens to be “National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week!” The National Animal Control Officer’s Association has declared the second full week of April as a time when we show appreciation towards the hard-working men and women of Animal Control that risk their lives and spend huge amounts of personnel resources including time away from family and friends while serving the public like all the other public safety and law enforcement agencies involved and empowered with the same duties. The men and women of the Rolla Animal Control Division are dedicated professionals who not only rid our neighborhoods of dangerous domestic and non-domestic animals, but also offer a safe haven for family pets that have wandered off or become lost. Drop by the Rolla Animal Shelter sometime and say hello to our ACO staff who includes: Inge Wilson, John Redshaw, Roy Taylor and Janet Ray. Thank you for all you do!

The following excerpt is from Telecommunications Supervisor Stayce Smith on the kind offerings received from Telecommunications Week and Animal Control Officers Week. Stayce writes: This week in honor of National Telecommunicator’s Week and Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, our staff received a special treat from the Metro Business College Massage Therapy Program . Julie Phillips brought over 4 of her students this week to offer free chair massages for our Animal Control Officers , Phelps County Sherriff’s Dept. info techs and telecommunicators from the Rolla Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Science & Technology Police Department. This was the perfect opportunity for the students to get some practice and our employees to get “de-stressed”. We really appreciate the participation of Julie Phillips and her students: Brandy Stone, Kendra Cross, Briana Bewig and David Pinnell.

The Metro Business College Students were not the only ones who showed their appreciation this week. Telecommunicators were treated to lunch on Thursday by my Command Staff and me. Our Communications Chief made homemade pizzas for her staff and though I don’t want to offend any of our local pizzerias………….. I must say her pizza is some of the best ever! Members of Phelps County Ambulance stopped by on Wednesday with fruit baskets for each shift of dispatchers . Students from Mrs. Lauth’s first grade class at Mark Twain sent over pictures and thank you notes for dispatchers. The City of Rolla Fire & Rescue launched a Facebook campaign to get 1000 “LIKES” for dispatch. The ladies of Behind the Badge prepared goody bags and Comm. Chief Volkmer decorated the Communications Center. I know our staff really appreciates everyone’s support. Thanks to everyone who helped make this week so special for our employees!

The next excerpt if from Spo. Tommy Davis. Tommy writes: On April 11, 2010, Spo. Chrissy Smith, Spo. Tommy Davis, Pto. Steven Gray and Pto. Chris Reeder responded to the 700 block of E 7th Street for a report of a possible burglary in progress. Upon arrival officers observed a male exit the residence carrying items. When he saw the police, he dropped the items and ran. While PTO Gray and PTO Reeder chased the first male suspect, SPO Smith and SPO Davis chased after a second male suspect. SPO Smith and SPO Davis located and arrested the second male suspect a few moments later, after he had tried hiding from the officers. Officers obtained information reference to the first male that ran and were able to identify him and make and arrest. Further investigation revealed that the property from the burglarized residence had been distributed to several different locations. Officers were able to identify three suspects and recovered several items from four different residences around Phelps County.

The Rolla Police Department would like to thank the neighbors in the area who called the police. Without the assistance of the observant citizens in the area, officers would have had a difficult time locating the suspects and gaining some of the victim’s property back. Thank You.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

City receives $337,067 grant from DNR and approval on EZZ

I was very pleased when the City was notified recently that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $337,067 Wastewater and Water Treatment Efficiency Grant to the City of Rolla through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) monies. The Rolla City Council, at the March 15 Council meeting, unanimously approved a motion to move forward with the submission of and future awarding of the grant monies from the DNR and U.S. Department of Energy.

The Energize Missouri Community Block Grant is part of a $456,862 project that staff is proposing for energy efficiency improvements at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant where a more energy efficient blower system will be installed. This specific project includes $16,443 of in-kind costs with a cash match from the City of $103,352.

Steve Hargis, the City’s Public Works Director, is estimating that this project will help to save the City approximately $52,000 a year in electric costs, resulting in a simple payback of 8.7 years. This project is part of the larger energy audit project Mr. Hargis and the City has been working on with Siemens Building Technologies during the last several months. Mr. Hargis will bring details of this project, along with several others totaling about $2 million, to the Council for consideration in April.

The Wastewater and Water Treatment Efficiency grant application was prepared by Anne McClay, Project Coordinator in the Public Works Department. She and Mr. Hargis submitted the application and they are to be commended on the thorough package they submitted and the money they have subsequently help save the City of Rolla and our residents.

In another piece of very good news, the City was recently notified by David Kerr, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, that the City’s application to establish an Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EZZ) within the City of Rolla and part of Phelps County has been approved! As a result of this, Rolla will be able to utilize this new program to support its economic development efforts. The EZZ committee, which was comprised of city and county officials, and representatives from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Mo-Sci Corporation, and the Rolla Regional Economic Commission, worked diligently for many months on this important EZZ application. I commend and appreciate all of their hard work and efforts.

All of this good news is on the heels of Rolla being selected among only four other communities in the state as a DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) Initiative community, and the creation of the new Rolla Arts and Entertainment District (approved in February 2010 by City Council), which will be anchored by the new Benton Square Development. For more information regarding the DREAM Initiative (www.modream.org), or the newly approved EZZ, please contact John Petersen, the City’s Director of Community Development, at 426-6970 or at jpetersen@rollacity.org.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone that the 2010 “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” is just around the corner on April 19 through April 25. The Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday encourages the purchase of certain qualifying energy efficient appliances by exempting them for sales tax, and thereby reducing the consumer’s cost for such appliances. By offering incentives that reward consumers for being energy efficient, it is hoped that consumer awareness will help reduce energy consumption across the state, and have the added benefit of promoting retail sales activity in the Rolla area. Qualifying appliances, which must be Energy Star certified, include clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers. An Energy Star certified appliance is any appliance approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Police Chief Chat

With Spring break and Easter Sunday behind us, it is time to get back to the daily grind of work, school and life. We hope you had a safe Easter and if you traveled, a safe return home. This week, once again has been busy in that we handled 929 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 24 accidents, 1 runaway juvenile, 77 9-1-1 hang up calls, 29 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 48 traffic complaints, 38 assists of other agencies, 4 assaults, 8 fingerprint requests, 6 transient aids, 92 traffic stops, 30 arrests, 4 leaving without paying for fuel, 16 stealing calls and 58 security checks.

On Friday, Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) Coordinator Vince Giacolone, (VIPS) Division Commander S/Sgt. Rick Williams and I traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri for the first Missouri Volunteers in Police Service Foundation (MOVIPS) organizational meeting. The purpose of the foundation is to bring together diverse partners working in conjunction to increase citizens and community involvement with law enforcement in partnership to reduce the fiscal burden on local governments through the use of civilian volunteer resources within the State of Missouri. This program will be governed by dividing the state into regions in line with the Missouri State Highway Patrol troop designations or zones. Each zone will install a coordinator who will be responsible for introducing the Volunteers in Police Services philosophy to communities and law enforcement agencies who are not yet involved in this program.

This week’s featured employee spotlight will be Communications Supervisor Stayce Smith! Stacey is one of three Communications Supervisors in our 911 Center. She has been with us for almost 14 years now! She originally took a position in dispatch “until she could find something she liked better”. Little did she know just how much we would grow on her! Stacey oversees the training program in dispatch and that is one of her favorite parts of her job here. She takes a lot of pride in making sure our staff is prepared to handle all of the tasks that are thrown their way. Last year Stacey was presented with the George Major Award for Trainer of the Year by the Missouri Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. Stacey says she is blessed to work with such an amazing group of people. She is very proud of all of the emergency personnel that she dispatches for and the members of the team she dispatches with. Though Stacey is a Rolla “import”, her parents, the late Bland Smith & Dorothy (Matlock) Smith are both natives. She is the mother of three Rolla Bulldogs! Her daughter Jasmine Hall is a freshman at Missouri State University. Lydia Hall is a flutist in Rolla’s Marching Bulldog Brigade and her son, Todd plays football and basketball for Rolla Junior High , as well as soccer for the Rolla Knights. I guess that explains what she does when she is not dispatching. Stayce, thanks for all you do!

If you follow our Facebook site you were sure to see the blog describing the recovery of the missing Rolla Lion’s Club guardian lion! The lion was discovered near the edge of the Lion’s Club property and properly placed back on guard at the Rolla Lion’s Club Den. We feel that the announcement posted on Facebook by area law enforcement agencies led to the recovery of this property. That is one of many advantages of the Facebook program and one of the reasons law enforcement agencies are taking advantage of the utilization of the community, by keeping the public informed of events and happenings that affect us all. Thank you to all our Facebook fans who follow not only the Rolla Police site, but also the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue Facebook pages. It is our goal to keep you up to date on any events or situations that affect our community. We are very pleased that the property was returned to the Rolla Lions and thank them for all they do!

S/Sgt. Rick Williams has asked me to announce that the 2010 Law Enforcement Torch Run t-shirt campaign was a great success and that we not only met our goal of selling $1,000.00 in t-shirts, but exceeded that mark by over $500.00! The Law Enforcement Torch Run t-shirt campaign is one of many Torch Run events hosted throughout the year, by the Rolla Police Department to benefit our Special Olympic athletes. We also participate in the actual Torch Run that will be held in May and host a trivia night in October. We would like to thank all of you for your continued support in helping us help the athletes!

The 2010 Route 66 Summerfest celebration is just around the corner and with the Summerfest comes the 3rd Annual Fire Truck Pull hosted by the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue. The Fire Truck Pull will be held on Saturday June 5, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. on 8th Street in front of Meek’s Lumber. The pull consists of teams of up to 10 pullers attempting to pull a fully equipped fire truck a known distance in the best time. This year all proceeds from the Fire Truck Pull will benefit the Veteran’s Memorial Park located on Southview Drive. This park was dedicated in 2009 to all of our surviving veterans and those that gave their lives for our freedom. This year our featured guest emcee will be Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, and in addition we are hearing rumors that there may be a local fitness guru who will attempt make an attempt at a solo pull! If you would like to enter a team, you may have up to 10 members, and the cost is $100.00 per team. We encourage local businesses, health clubs, government agencies, citizens and veteran’s to enter a team for this great cause. For more information or to enter a team, contact: S/Sgt. Rick Williams at 308-1213! Thanks for helping us help the veterans!

In closing, I would like to include and entry from Communications Supervisor Stayce Smith. She writes: Several of our Telecommunicators are going back to 1st grade this month! They will be visiting first graders at several area schools to teach the kids when and how to dial 911! They use a nationally recognized program called Red E. Fox 911 for Kids. We have been doing this program in the schools for several years now. Friday, I will be visiting Mark Twain Elementary. Next week Alicia Hill, Amy King , myself and Jamie Jones will be visiting Truman Elementary and St. Patrick’s. Wyman Elementary and St. James Elementary will be later this month. This is an important program for the kids and a great chance for our telecommunicators to interact with the community. We appreciate the schools for giving us this opportunity.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Police Chief Chat

Well, it finally feels like Spring is here. The milder temperatures and plenty of sunshine has lured the masses out of their winter shelters and scattered them throughout our parks, neighborhoods and community. The bike trails are full of walkers, joggers and cyclists, the tennis courts and ball fields are filling up with sports enthusiasts eager to get in shape for the upcoming seasons and our children, out of school on Spring break are out in numbers enjoying the weather. Of course, with all this activity comes the need for motorists to pay special attention in neighborhoods, at intersections and around city parks.

The warmer weather is also an attraction to area bicyclists. There are many bicycle enthusiasts in which include cyclists who ride for health and fitness, riders for pleasure and children. Regardless of why you ride, please be aware of the laws pertaining to riding bicycles safely in our community. By city ordinance, bicycles are not to be ridden on sidewalks in the Downtown business district. Cyclists need to be sure to always wear a protective helmet, obey all traffic laws, always follow the flow of traffic and stay to the right as safely as possible, be especially alert at intersections, wear brightly colored clothing, stay alert at all times, be predictable and never ride at night without ample lighting and reflective clothing.

Motorists need to use caution and “Share the Road” with area cyclists. Pass with care and pay special attention around bike paths and park areas!

Be wary of pedestrians, runners, joggers and walkers who will also be taking advantage of the warmer weather. Runners/joggers/walkers also need to follow a few safety tips to keep your activities safe. Be sure to stay on sidewalks whenever available and if none are present, always travel as close to the edge of the road as possible facing oncoming traffic. Be sure to wear bright colored or reflective clothing while running to make motorists aware of your presence. Never use earplugs or music devices while jogging to avoid missing warning sounds such as approaching vehicles or car horns.

Another warm weather attraction is motorcycling. Motorcycling is very popular in the Rolla area and within the past 2 to 3 years we have seen an marked increase in the smaller scooters and pocket rocket type motorcycles in the community. These vehicles although very popular are some of the smallest vehicles on the road and are easily overlooked. Motorcyclists need to follow some basic safety tips to ensure their safety while operating in traffic. Remember to always wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved safety helmet, even though they are not required on scooters with an engine displacement of less than 50 cc’s. Wear bright or reflective clothing and be sure to activate your headlight at all times day or night! When riding in a group ride in a staggered formation and when approaching an intersection close up the gaps to reduce traffic congestion. Motorists inherently are watching for cars and trucks and quite often will overlook motorcyclists and bicyclists.

This week’s employee spotlight will feature Telecommunicator Jamie Jones! Jamie has been with us since September of 2005. She came to us from Pulaski County Sheriff’s department where she had dispatched for two years before joining the RPD team. Jamie is the daughter of Burton and Sandy Fritchey of Dixon, MO. She and her husband Mario Jones have been married for four and half years. They are the proud parents of two dogs, Molly and Havyn. Though they do not have any other children yet, Jamie is very close to her nephew Jayrn Brown who is a 2nd grader in Dixon. Jamie spends a lot of time cheering Jaryn on in baseball, soccer and basketball! Jamie is blessed to come from a very close family and despite their busy schedules, they are able to find time to keep those ties close. Not only is Jamie one of our most experienced dispatchers, she is also one of our most talented! She loves to sing and as she says, she can “make a song out of most anything”. She puts her talent to good use at the Dixon Assembly of God Church where she is Director of Praise & Worship. Jamie’s professionalism, positive attitude, integrity and sense of humor make her an MVP on the RPD team. We are lucky to have her!

In closing, we members of the Rolla Police Department would like to wish you and your family a Happy Easter and if you are traveling this weekend, please remember to drive safely for a happy return!

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Exercise your right to VOTE on Tues., April 6

The year 2010 for the City of Rolla and many cities throughout Missouri is significant not only because of the budgetary and economic challenges we are facing, and the quality of life we are trying to secure for our children and future generations, but because it is a Census year and a year of many important considerations.

I have mentioned often, as have other members of our community, of the importance of filling out and mailing in your 2010 U.S. Census forms, and what a difference it will make to our community in the years to come. We are counting on you, so please be counted. An equally important action you can take in 2010 as concerned and active citizens, is to exercise your right to VOTE this coming Tuesday on April 6 during the Rolla General Election.

In addition to the Rolla Municipal Election, which includes numerous contested races, please remember that you will be asked to also vote on two other very important ballot issues that will have a long lasting impact on our community. The two ballot issues I am speaking of are the proposed Phelps County Emergency Dispatch Sales Tax known as Proposition 911 and the Rolla Public School District Proposition.

Proposition 911 is the Phelps County Sales Tax of ¼ of one percent being proposed by the Phelps County Commission to REPLACE the existing 15% land-line surcharge applied to local telephone service. The Rolla City Council approved at the March 1 City Council meeting a resolution endorsing the Phelps County Emergency Dispatch Sales Tax, and more information on this proposition is available online at www.rollacity.org.

The Rolla Public School District Proposition, which is a no tax rate increase proposition, will require a 4/7 majority vote to approve the current debt service levy to remain unchanged at 25 cents which will fund an $8.3 million bond proposal to construct and improve three important projects at Rolla High School, Rolla Middle School and Rolla Junior High School. Funding for the projects will include $8.3 million from the bond proposal and $1 million from the RPS district capital projects fund. More information on this important proposition is available online at www.rolla.k12.mo.us.

Polls will open on Tuesday for the Rolla General Election at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. For more information regarding polling locations and ward maps, please visit www.rollacity.org/wards/voter. You may also contact Carol Daniels in the City Clerk’s office at Rolla City Hall, 901 North Elm Street, at (573) 426-6942 or online at cdaniels@rollacity.org.

Please do your part as citizens who care about the future of our great community, and VOTE on Tuesday, April 6.

Police Chief Chat

Another busy week, in that the Police Department handled 744 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 17 accidents, 7 alarms, 67 9-1-1 hang up calls, 28 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 34 traffic complaints, 15 assists of other agencies, 4 narcotic violation reports, 98 traffic stops, 9 check well beings, 20 arrests, 45 security checks and 15 suspicious nature calls.

This week’s winner of the “Employee of the Week” nomination by our FaceBook fans is none other than records clerk, Christy Ford! Christy was born in Lindsay, California and moved to Missouri in 1989. She graduated from Rolla High School in 1994 and has been married to her husband Jason for 13 years Together they have a lovely daughter named Faith. The Ford family enjoys raising and showing cattle and horses and rodeos in the summer. Christy has been with the Rolla Police Department for almost a year and enjoys the employee comradery and considers this a great place to work. Congratulations Christy on your nomination for “Employee of the Week”!



Our featured Central Communications spotlight will focus on 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Alicia Hill. Alicia was born and raised in Independence, Missouri where she met her husband of 10 years, Alan. Together they have 3 children and ended up in Rolla after Alan accepted a position with Rolla Fire and Rescue 3 years ago. Alicia applied and was hired as a telecommunicator. Alicia says, “I applied at the police department, not knowing what to expect, but I am very happy that I was offered and accepted the position as a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator. I have made many new friends and enjoy working with everyone. I have learned so much about this job and that not every day is the same. In addition, I have learned a lot about myself”! Alicia and her family enjoy watching TV, playing X-Box and Wii and fishing or just hanging out! Thanks for all you do Alicia and Alan too!








This next segment of the column is not a regularly featured spotlight, nor has the person we are about to describe been nominated for “Employee of the Week”, but just someone we thought you might like to hear about, Sgt. Wayne Rapier! Throughout the year Sgt. Wayne Rapier works very hard to keep our young people safe. He is the only School Resource Officer for the Rolla Public Schools. There are approximately 4, 000 students and 580 school staff members that Sgt. Rapier serves. What does a school resource officer do? We can’t fit it all in this post! To start with though, any police report of an incident that occurs on school property is investigated by Sgt. Rapier. This could be a “fender bender” in a parking lot, a missing cell phone belonging to a student, an altercation between juveniles or vandalism. He does not just patrol schools and investigate crimes though. He works with staff and administrators to develop and implement safety procedures. He also oversees security at school dances and high school sporting events.

Not all of his investigations are for crimes on campus. Sgt. Rapier works very hard to protect our young people off of campus as well. He handles narcotics investigations, reports of child abuse, internet crimes, missing juveniles, sexual assaults, custody disputes, domestic violence and mental health investigations. Sgt. Rapier is also a trained hostage negotiator. It takes a very special person to be able to be an effective School Resource Officer. It requires a perfect mix of compassion, toughness, patience, wisdom, inquisitiveness ,training, more training, determination, awareness, law enforcement experience, parenting experience, sense of humor and of course a Bulldog spirit! We truly appreciate all you do Sgt. Rapier! Thanks for all you do to keep our young people safe!
In line with "Operation F.R.I.E.N.D. (forming relationships in every neighborhood), and our effort to re-kindle interest in our Neighborhood Watch program, we have sectioned the city into 3 equal watch zones. In the very near future we will coordinate group meetings in each zone to discuss crime prevention, the establishment of Community Emergency Response Teams(CERT) and Neighborhood Watch. Currently most areas of the city are covered under an organized Neighborhood Watch group. Signs have been posted and officers have visited with the groups and explained the Neighborhood Watch program. If your neighborhood is not currently active in this program and you would like to learn more, contact S/Sgt. Rick Williams at the Rolla Police Department at 308-1213. We will announce dates and locations of the group meetings in the near future.

This Spring the Rolla Police Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue will be hosting Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. If available, emergency services personnel are the best trained and best equipped to handle emergencies and you should use them. However, following a catastrophic disaster, you and the community may be on your own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications or unpassable roads. This is where CERT comes in! CERT training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using the training provided in this program to save lives and protect property. Training covers areas such as: Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search and Rescue, the Cert Organization, Disaster Psychology and Terrorism. CERT classes are taught by trained emergency personnel and consists of 20 hours of training which includes classroom segments and actual hands on practice.

If you would like to receive the training or would like to learn more about the CERT program, contact: S/Sgt. Rick Williams at 308-1213 or Training Officer Ron Smith at Rolla Fire and Rescue at 364-3989.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Please fill out 2010 U.S. Census form and mail it in

After nearly 12 months of discussing and promoting the importance of the 2010 U.S. Census to our community, we are now nearing Census Day on Thursday April 1. All U.S. residents must be counted – people of all races and ethnic groups, both citizens and non-citizens. Questionnaire responses should represent your household as it exists on April 1.

Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data and Census data determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Our community’s success is based on the power of everyone working together on a common goal. When we do our part we help make this community that much stronger. I think we can all agree that resources like clean water, good schools, and safe roads are vital to our community. But how can we make sure that we have all of that? It’s very simple – By filling out and mailing back our 2010 Census Form.

Whats at stake for our community is the loss of $1,300 per year for every person not counted for the next 10 years. This means we could lose out on vital resources for our friends, neighbors and our family. This time around the census form is shorter, just 10 short questions, and your private information is kept just that – private for 72 years. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s census questionnaire responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Our community has a lot riding on this and it’s up to each of us to do our part, so please fill out your census form, if you haven’t already, and mail it. We are counting on you, so please be counted. And should you have any questions about the U.S. Census please visit www.2010census.gov.

Looking ahead to next weekend, please remember that next Saturday, April 3 is the City-wide Spring Clean-up that is coordinated by the City’s Environmental Services Department. You may want to start setting aside items this weekend so you are ready for the City-wide pick-up next Saturday, April 3. If you wish to participate in this event, please place all of your items to the curb by 6 a.m.

Examples of items that will be accepted include furniture, microwaves, televisions, old clothes, and household trash. Items that will not be accepted include appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items should be placed in boxes or bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.

We ask that you do not place your roll-out container to the curb, because during this special spring clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.

Mayor Bill Jenks, III

Proposition 911 important issue on April 6

Among the many important issues citizens will be asked to decide on at this year’s Rolla General Election on Tuesday, April 6 will be the proposed Phelps County Emergency Dispatch Sales Tax known as Proposition 911.

The important aspect to consider when casting your vote on April 6 is that the Phelps County Sales Tax of ¼ of one percent (1/4%) is proposed to REPLACE the existing 15% land-line surcharge applied to local telephone service.

The need for the review and discussion of the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center dates back a couple of years when concern was raised by the County Commission that the 911 Fund was underfunded because of the rapid decrease in the 15% land-line surcharge applied to local telephones. E-911 services and the 15% surcharge tax on all basic telephone services were approved by county and city voters in 1992 with 75% support. Unlike 1993 when the City of Rolla first began providing professional 911 and county-wide dispatch services to all emergency providers in Phelps County by contract, many more folks, (including visitors and highway travelers), are using cell phones today, which do not require a surcharge. This shift in usage has resulted in a decrease in the number of land lines resulting in decreased revenues for emergency dispatch services.

In addition to the dwindling revenues from the existing 15% land-line surcharge, the call volume through the City’s Dispatch Center has grown to 75,000 calls for service, which is an increase of 83% since 1995. And the additional call volumes have increased the need for trained professional dispatchers and better technology to deal with cellular phones. Of the 75,000 calls for service that the 911 Dispatch Center handles annually, 50,000 of those calls are for City of Rolla Police and Fire services.

To show its support for Proposition 911, the Rolla City Council approved at the March 1 City Council meeting a resolution endorsing the Phelps County Emergency Dispatch Sales Tax issue which will appear on the April 6, 2010 election ballot. Please keep in mind while casting your vote on April 6 some of the major points that underscore the immediate need for an alternative funding mechanism for the E-911 Dispatch Center. Please also consider that the E-911 Dispatch Center currently provides services to 15 different agencies, including the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Phelps County Ambulance, Rolla Police Department, Rolla Fire and Rescue, Rolla Rural Fire Department, St. James Police and Fire Departments and St. James Ambulance; Doolittle Police Department and Doolittle Rural Fire Department; Newburg Police and Fire Departments; Edgar Springs Police and Fire Departments; and Duke Fire Department.

Under the current arrangement (15% land line surcharge) the County covers all E-911 costs for all 15 emergency response agencies and pays general dispatch services for all emergency response agencies except for the City of Rolla and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Dept. While the Sheriff’s Dept. has contributed a flat amount of $36, 268 since 1994 the City of Rolla has contributed anywhere from $200,000 to $320,000 per year during that same time period. The proposed sales tax would be paid by all residents and visitors and would generate sufficient revenues to cover all costs of dispatch services for the entire County.

Mayor Bill Jenks, III

Police Chief Chat

With all the activity centered around the Missouri S&T’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration, we were somewhat busy this week. Here are our call totals: 931 calls for service (an increase of 287 calls over last week’s totals). Of these calls there were: 24 accidents, 14 alarms, 44 9-1-1 hang up calls, 27 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 50 traffic complaints, 26 assists of other agencies, 7 intoxicated person calls, 218 traffic stops, 12 check well beings, 27 arrests, 23 suspicious nature calls. Ask you can see, our traffic stops, intoxicated person calls and arrest totals were up from the norm. The additional actions may be a reflection of the St. Pat’s celebration or activities associated with that event.

The Patrol, Traffic and Communications Divisions are hit the hardest during almost any kind of special event such as St. Pat’s, Summerfest, severe weather and just about any other major incident. They are the folks that are receiving, responding and investigating the calls and complaints associated with such events. These folks are what I like to refer to as the backbone or meat and potatoes of our police organization in that of all the divisions, important as they are, the telecommunicators and first responders are usually the first group in and the last group out. I want to take just a moment and thank each and every one of you for your professionalism, courage, dedication to duty, compassion and drive to endure rotating shifts, inclement weather, meals on the go, missed family time and events and the ability to continue to provide this great service day after day and still maintain a warm smile and warm heart. All of you are truly the Rolla Police Department! Thank you for all you do!

I would also like to thank our Volunteers in Police Services, our Police Reserve Unit, the Police Explorer Post and Behind the Badge (BTB) for their endless devotion to public safety and for bolstering our ranks in an effort to ensure the Rolla Police Department’s mission to keeping our community safe is completed! These volunteers, prepared meals, patrolled neighborhoods, manned intersections during the parade and performed many other tasks to make our St. Patrick’s Day operation a success. Thank you again to all our volunteers of whom without, we would be unable to accomplish our goals and perform our mission!

Along those lines, this week’s Volunteers in Police Services spotlight is on none other than Janessa Brown Martin! Janessa is a VIPS volunteer and also a Rolla Police Explorer adviser and liaison between the two entities. Janessa was born and raised in the Rolla area. She was educated at home then accepted a position as a telecommunicator in Central Dispatch, where she served 2 years. Janessa served in the Rolla Police Explorer Program for four years attaining the rank of Captain. Janessa is married and the proud mother of a one year old daughter. She enjoys singing and acting in her spare time and will be playing “Kitty” in the upcoming production of Pride and Prejudice playing this month at the Ozark Actor’s Theatre. Janessa joined the VIPS program in January 2010, and enjoys school and neighborhood patrols!


This week, we took delivery on 3 new Chevrolet Impala patrol cars to replace aging fleet cars that were being phased out of service. The 2010 Impala’s were ordered on state bid through Don Brown Chevrolet in St. Louis. Don Brown ordered the cars in white then painted them to match our black & white paint scheme. The cars were then delivered to Ed Roehr Safety Products where they were outfitted with emergency lights and siren, prisoner cages, rifle racks, video cameras and scanners. Upon delivery to Rolla, Rayfield Communications out of Springfield, Mo. installed the 2 – way police radios. This weekend the cars will be striped and numbered by Steve Harshbarger to match the rest of the fleet. The new cars will be assigned to Sgt. John Frey, Spo. Brad Gibbs and Spo. Tommy Davis.

In closing, S/Sgt. Rick Williams announced that we have exceeded our goal in the sale of Law Enforcement Torch Run t-shirts to benefit Special Olympics. We set out to sell $1,000.00 in shirts to continue our membership in the prestigious Torch Club, which is comprised of Law Enforcement agencies who meet or exceed $1000.00 in fund raising within a given year. The Rolla Police Department has been a Torch Club member since 1993. This year the t-shirt sales are already over $1500.00, and there are more orders coming in. This is great news in that all monies raised supports our local Special Olympic athletes. If you have not yet received your shirt, or need to place another order, contact S/Sgt. Rick Williams at 308-1213. Thank you for helping us help the athletes!

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration set for April 22

The 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration will be held Thursday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Missouri University of Science & Technology Havener Center.

Businesses, government offices, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate. Rolla Earth Day exhibits are strictly limited to organizations sharing information about topics related to earth and biological sciences, environmental policy, sustainability, recycling, and environmental best practices.

Last year, approximately 1,500 children and adults attended the event. Hands-on children’s activities are strongly encouraged. Giveaways are encouraged, but only if they relate to the theme (such as trees, seeds, flowers planted in biodegradable flower pots, or products made from natural/recyclable materials). This year’s theme is Be Green, Keep our Planet Clean.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Julie Wilson at 341-4262 or wilsonjulie@mst.edu at your earliest opportunity. Rolla Earth Day Celebration is a free event that includes children’s activities, educational exhibits, live music, door prizes and more.

Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday approved by City Council (April 19-25)

Going green is something that the Rolla City Council is backing up with action as they demonstrated by unanimously approving an ordinance allowing the 2010 “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” to apply to the local sales taxes of the City of Rolla between April 19 through April 25.

In essences, the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday encourages the purchase of certain qualifying energy efficient appliances by exempting them for sales tax, and thereby reducing the consumer’s cost for such appliances. By offering incentives that reward consumers for being energy efficient, it is hoped that consumer awareness will help reduce energy consumption across the state, and have the added benefit of promoting retail sales activity in the Rolla area.

Qualifying appliances, which must be Energy Star certified, include clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers. An Energy Star certified appliance is any appliance approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The ordinance, however will not apply to any retailer when less than two percent of the retailer’s merchandise offered for sale qualifies for the sales tax holiday. In such instances, the retailer will offer a sales tax refund in lieu of the sales tax holiday.

Improving energy efficiency throughout our community, including City facilities, is something the City of Rolla is very committed to. To be successful, a green community needs to consider a variety of ways its citizens and businesses can reduce its carbon footprint, and promote an environmentally friendly way of living. Engineers from Siemens Technologies, Inc. are currently conducting an energy audit, consisting of the mechanical and electrical systems at Rolla City Hall, the Rolla Police Department, the Rolla Fire Stations #1 and #2, The Centre, SpalshZone, and the City’s three wastewater distribution systems. The assessments will range from lighting and water improvements to aeration system upgrades, and new energy efficiency systems, equipment and technology.

Police Chief Chat

With Spring just around the corner, we can finally shed our winter woes and prepare for better days ahead. March is Severe Spring Weather Preparedness Month in Missouri because the weather transitions from snow to rain, tornadoes and flooding. On Thursday of this week, the City of Rolla Office of Emergency Management and Central Communications took part in the State Wide Tornado Drill hosted by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Central Communications received the notification to begin the drill at 1:30 p.m. and activated our Early Warning System, which consists of Outdoor Warning Sirens, Cable Television Warning System and now Facebook and Twitter. The Statewide Tornado Drill is held each Spring, usually in early March to allow communities to test their early warning systems. We also test our EWS on the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year.

With the severe weather season upon us, emergency preparedness is vital to the survival of the community. Remember, when there is a severe weather “watch” this means to watch the sky, and be prepared to take immediate cover is the conditions worsen. If there is a severe weather “warning” take immediate cover! The City of Rolla Office of Emergency Management has adopted the plan to activate our early warning systems anytime the City of Rolla is named in the pathcast of a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning with winds in excess of 70 mile per hour. We will not activate the system on “watch” forecasts. When our sirens are activated they will continue to sound as long as the threat is present, with the exception of brief pause intervals of approximately 5 – 10 seconds to cool the siren driver. In other words if you hear the sirens, take immediate cover and remain under cover until the sirens finally stop sounding.

This week’s Volunteers in Police Services spotlight will feature VIPS volunteer Larry Seest! Larry was born in Waynesville, Missouri, but moved to the State of California at a young age. After high school graduation Larry entered the US Navy where he was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger as an air traffic controller. After 4 years Larry left the Navy and entered Santa Ana Junior College where he received an associate degree in Fire Science. In 1978 Larry moved to Missouri and joined Rolla Fire and Rescue where he remained for 30 years attaining the rank of Assistant Chief / Fire Marshall. Larry retired from the fire service in 2009 and works construction part time. Larry is married to his wife Sandy and they have a son and daughter. Larry was attracted to the VIPS program, because it provides an opportunity to give service to the community, which he has been doing his entire adult life. Thanks Larry for all you do!

This week’s Rolla Police Department Facebook “Employee of the Week” is Senior Patrol Officer Tony Lauth! Tony was born and raised in Washington, Missouri. In 2000 Tony entered the Law Enforcement Training Institute in Columbia, Missouri for his law enforcement certification. Upon graduation, Tony accepted a position as patrolman with the New Haven Police Department. Tony then moved to Rolla to accept a position with the University of Missouri – Rolla Police Department, (now Missouri S&T). In 2004 Tony applied and was hired at the Rolla Police Department where he now serves in the Traffic Division as a Senior Patrol Officer. Tony is also one of the 2 advisors for the Rolla Police Department Explorer Post #170 where he coordinates training, duty assignments, cadet applicants and many other functions for the Post. Tony is married to his wife Malinda and they have one daughter and are expecting their second child in the very near future. Tony enjoys fishing, golfing and spending time with his family. Congratulations Tony on your selection as Employee of the Week!

The Missouri S&T St. Patrick’s Day celebration is in full swing and there will be students and alumni all over town taking part in various related activities. On Wednesday, Lt. Doug James, S/Sgt. Rick Williams and VIPS Coordinator Vince Giacolone escorted St. Pat and his court into Rolla and over to the Downtown Band shell for opening ceremonies. Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks and the Rolla Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were on hand to welcome St. Pat’s arrival. Festivities continued all week and will feature the annual downtown parade this morning, followed by a free concert at the Rolla Downtown Bandshell. Please use caution in and around town and be sure to watch for increased pedestrian traffic as the St. Pat’s celebration continues.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

St. Pat’s Parade kicks off spring fever in Rolla

If you haven’t noticed all the green in Rolla this week you may have forgotten that today is the 102nd Annual St. Pat’s parade, which begins at 11 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla. Considered one of the largest and most well attended St. Pat’s celebrations in the state of Missouri, it is perhaps the most festive parade of the year in Rolla.

For me the St. Pat’s celebration festivities began on Wednesday, March 10 when I met with Dr. Robert Schwartz, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Barry White, President of the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, at the downtown bandshell to officially greet St. Pat and his court as they made their grand entrance much like St. Pat and his Court made their official entrance in 1908 near the railroad tracks on 8th Street in downtown Rolla.

Regardless of the weather forecast for today, I’m sure we will see thousands of residents, Missouri S&T students and alumni, who return each year to Rolla to attend the St. Pat’s Parade and the many festivities planned for the weekend. If you haven’t already dug out your St. Pat’s green sweatshirt, or green beads, hat, or scarf, just make sure you have some item of clothing or accessory that resembles the color green, or you may feel a little left out as you witness an entire community decked out in the traditional St. Pat’s “Green.” If you are still searching for ideas, there’s no need to worry, as many Missouri S&T students will be selling St. Pat’s apparel at many of the local service stations and grocery stores in town today, and throughout the weekend.

Celebrations such as St. Pat’s are one aspect of our community that bring the residents of Rolla, visitors and Missouri S&T together unlike no other event throughout the year. And realizing the importance and significance of Missouri S&T to our town, and how it has elevated the image and reputation of our community on a global scale, it really makes me appreciate every year during St. Pat’s what a vital role Missouri S&T plays in the lifeblood of our community.

Missouri S&T has long been known for its cutting-edge innovation and technology, and is consistently ranked in U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top graduate engineering schools. The rankings also list six Missouri S&T programs as among the best in the country, as stated on the Missouri S&T Website (www.mst.edu).

Among the many exciting projects occurring at Missouri S&T is the construction of the first building in Missouri S&T’s Innovation Park that will be located on 10th Street. The City’s Public Works and Community Development Departments have collaborated with Missouri S&T on the design and master plan of Innovation Park, and we consider this development to be a great asset to our community. In fact, the City is partnering with Missouri S&T and other businesses and entities as we move forward on what will eventually be one of the gateway entrances to Innovation Park at Bryant Drive and Kingshighway where a new traffic light and intersection will be relocated from Fairgrounds Road in August of this year. A development agreement is currently being finalized among McDonald’s Restaurant, Fairgrounds Chevrolet, Missouri S&T and the Missouri Department of Transportation that will provide for the right-of-way variances needed for this new extension of Bryant Drive off Kingshighway. The new Bryant Drive Extension will meander through the south end of Innovation Park and connect to Fairgrounds Road, alleviating traffic congestion that currently exists on Kingshighway at the Fairgrounds Road intersection.

Missouri S&T is growing in leaps in bounds in both stature and student enrollment, and with the City’s new DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) Initiative status, the recent creation of a new Arts and Entertainment District, Benton Square, and an infusion of more than $8 million is private investment in the downtown business district, Rolla is gaining recognition among developers, investors, and businesses, as a City on the move!

Public Hearing to Discuss Smoke Free Workplace Ordinance - March 15

ROLLA – The public is invited to provide comment on an ordinance prohibiting smoking in workplaces and public places within the City of Rolla at the next Rolla City Council meeting on Monday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 N. Elm Street).
“The debate on the smoke-free workplace ordinance will continue at the public hearing on March 15,” said John Butz, Rolla City Administrator. “The Rolla City Council is trying to obtain public feedback, and we encourage you to provide comments during this portion of the meeting.”
The Rolla City Council made the following amendments to the proposed ordinance that will be discussed during the public hearing on March 15 at Rolla City Hall:

• Granting an exception for an enclosed (and detached) smoking facility
• Granting an exception for private clubs provided there are no employees (this required a modification to the definition of “employees”)
• Struck the reference to distances from windows and doors
• Clarified the definition of “Place of Employment” as it affects contractors/employees in residences
• Struck the “liberal” application of the ordinance
  

The issue of smoking in bars and bowling alleys also was set aside for future consideration.
For more information, please call City Administration at 426-6948. To review the DRAFT ordinance prohibiting smoking in workplaces and public places within the City of Rolla, please visit www.rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtm#agenda.

Public invited to attend Candidates Forum March 8

With the Rolla Municipal Election just around the corner, I’d like to extend an invitation to everyone in the community to attend the Rolla Candidates Forum on Monday, March 8 at the Rolla Public Schools Administration Building – Board Room located at 500A Forum Drive.

The Rolla Community Teachers Association (RCTA) Candidates Forum will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the Rolla Municipal Candidates Forum at 6 p.m. The Rolla Community Teachers Association (RCTA) and Rolla Channel 6 will host a Candidates Forum for candidates running in the Rolla Public School Board Election on April 6. For more information regarding this event, please contact Christopher Wright, President of the Rolla Community Teachers Association, at 458-0190, ext. 19133.

The Rolla Municipal Candidates forum, which will include candidates running for the Rolla Municipal General Election on April 6, will be moderated by Lee Buhr, Sports/Newscaster for Results Radio. The Rolla Municipal Candidates Forum will include introductions by each candidate, followed by questions from the audience, and then an opportunity for closing remarks. Only questions given from those attending the forum will be included in the discussions. The City believes that hosting the Candidates Forum is a reflection of open government that provides an opportunity for an exchange of ideas with the citizens and members of the Rolla community.

I would also like to remind everyone to vote during the Rolla Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 6. Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. For more information regarding polling locations and ward maps, please visit www.rollacity.org/wards/voter. You may also contact Carol Daniels in the City Clerk’s office at Rolla City Hall, 901 North Elm Street, at (573) 426-6942 or online at cdaniels@rollacity.org.

Looking ahead to the month of April, the Environmental Services Department will be hosting the annual City-wide Spring Clean-up on Saturday, April 3. If you wish to participate in this event, be sure to put your items out to the curb by 6 a.m.

Examples of items that will be accepted include: furniture, microwaves, televisions, old clothes, and household trash. Items that will not be accepted include: appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items should be placed in boxes or bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.

We ask that you do not place your roll-out container to the curb, because during this special spring clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.

Speaking of the environment, the Environmental Services Department will once again be participating in the annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration on Thursday, April 22. The 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Missouri S&T Havener Center. This year’s theme is “Be Green, Keep our Planet Clean.”

Rolla Earth Day Celebration is a free event that includes children’s activities, educational exhibits, live music, door prizes and more. For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Julie Wilson at 341-4262 or wilsonjulie@mst.edu at your earliest opportunity.

Police Chief Chat

We had another busy week here at the Rolla Police Department, in that we handled 632 calls for service. Of these calls, there were: 8 accidents, 8 alarms, 45 9-1-1 hang up calls, 17 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 32 traffic complaints, 3 burglaries, 19 assists of other agencies, 4 mental health calls, 142 traffic stops, 12 check well beings, 24 arrests. As you may have noticed, we had (45) 9-1-1 hang up calls! (45)! And that is within one week. Each and every one of these calls requires at least one officer to respond to the location the call originated and investigate to their satisfaction that there was no emergency. In a lot of cases, the calls were made by children, playing with a telephone, or cell phone. Some of the calls are from adults that dialed the number inadvertently, and still others are from callers who may have initially decided they had an emergency, then decided they did not and hung up. Either way, officers are mandated to respond to each of these calls to verify that help is not needed.

As you can imagine, when figured in with all the other calls received, these hang-up calls cost our department a lot of man-hours, we could be using in other areas. I know our Central Dispatch telecommunicators travel to all the public schools each year and teach our children how and when to use 9-1-1. This is a valuable service and we are certain this training has eliminated a lot of our 9-1-1 hang up calls. In an effort to reduce this number, parents please remember that a functioning cell phone still offers the option of calling 9-1-1 even though there is no service to the phone. In a lot of cases discarded cell phones are given to children as a play toy, and then the child ends up dialing 9-1-1. Even if they have received the training in school please re-emphasize the importance of knowing when to call the emergency number. If you have a cell phone you are not using and want to offer it to your child, be sure to remove the battery! A little concentrated effort by all of us will help us reduce these calls for service and allow more time for us to better serve you!

This week’s Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) volunteer spotlight is Don Reed! Don was born in Kirkwood, Missouri but has lived in Rolla on and off since 1950. Don graduated Rolla High School in 1954 and entered the US Army National Guard where he retired as a 1st Sergeant. Don has been married to his wife Bonnie for 52 years and they have 3 daughters. Don’s hobbies include any type of shooting for pleasure, hunting and fishing! Don says “I have always supported law enforcement and as a VIPS volunteer I have the opportunity to do security patrols, some office work and any other service I can provide to the department.” “This gives our officers more time to devote to doing their job of protecting public welfare.” Thanks Don, for all you do!

This week’s Rolla Police Department Facebook site “Employee of the Week” is none other than Detective Robert Jones. Robert was born in Canton, Ohio and raised in Dover, Ohio. Robert served 21 years in the US Army as a military policeman and assigned in Brunssum, the Netherlands and Wuerzburg, Germany. He was also deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch. Robert is married, has 3 sons and resides in St. James. His hobbies include model railroading, playing chess with his youngest son and antiquing with his wife. Robert joined the Rolla Police Department in 2004 and is currently a detective assigned to our Criminal Investigations Unit. Congratulations on Employee of the Week!

I noticed our Facebook site has really taken off and that the Rolla Police Department fan base is now 1,772 strong! Thank you for subscribing to our site and sharing your thoughts and insight on how the police department can better serve you. We appreciate all your favorable comments and postings and enjoy hearing your stories. As our fan base increases, so does the opportunity to reach more citizens and keep everyone better informed on the day to day events within the community. Please invite your family and friends to join our site and allow them the same interaction we enjoy with you.

In closing, I have learned that 1 of 2 concrete guardian lion statues that was symbolically guarding the entrance to the Rolla Lion’s Club Den has been stolen. This is truly a terrible injustice to bring upon such a fine service organization that has performed countless good deeds for our our community. This incident has been reported and is currently under investigation. If you or anyone you know has any information on the location of this statue, or information leading to the perpetrator(s), please contact the Rolla Police Department at 308-1213!

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse