What Can We Do? Here’s One Answer

“What can we do to help police?” That’s a question I hear from St. Louisans often at community meetings. While there are certainly those people out there who don’t necessarily think of police as their friends, don’t let those people deceive you—-the majority of people in our city want to help the police prevent and solve crimes—they just don’t know how to do it. And it’s a tough question. There is no magic solution. It’s hard work. It takes time and an immense amount of effort. It takes people working together. It takes programs, education, parenting, neighbors reaching out to neighbors, job training, dedicated police officers, tough prosecutors, stiff penalties—the list is endless. It takes people who are willing to spend weeks, months and years working to achieve a crime-free society. I wish there were more people who could make that commitment but realistically, when most people hear that it takes such effort, they become discouraged. However, there is one thing you can do that will help police immensely and I must admit, this one thing isn’t some groundbreaking innovation. It’s this: when you know anything at all about a crime that’s been committed, call us. This week, our homicide investigators did an amazing job cracking a tough case, thanks in part to YOU. You called us. Tips lead to information that can help us solve cases and ultimately, get criminals off the street. This is what we want to happen in every case and with your help it can. You may think what you saw, thought you saw, heard or thought you heard was minor. That minor detail may be the one missing piece in our investigation. If there is concern about getting involved, remember that Crimestoppers is completely anonymous. From the first phone call to collecting reward money when applicable, the person on the other end of the phone never knows who you are. So what can you do to help us? There are a million different answers and here’s just one of them. Call us. Crimestoppers is 1-866-371-TIPS. You won’t just be helping the police. You’ll be helping all of St. Louis and we’ll all be better because of it.

Dedicated, Even Through Difficult Times

Last Friday, I sent a message to our officers to encourage them to hold their heads high. These past few months have been very difficult for our Department. We have 1,341 officers and another 37 recruits in the Police Academy right now. Yet, the actions of ½ of 1% of our officers, can have a powerful impact on your perception of the entire Department. I want to be clear about one thing. The overwhelming majority of our officers are hardworking and dedicated.

They stay awake at night haunted by some of the things they see and the situations they have to deal with. They put in long hours for not enough pay. They do good things not in an effort for attention, but because those good things are the right things. Since becoming Chief, I’ve seen letters praising everything from the compassion of an officer who comforted a victim after a domestic abuse situation, to the determination of an officer who located a stolen a vehicle, to the kindness of two officers who helped a van full of elderly St. Louisans after their van stalled in traffic. Of course we have work to do and we’ll do it. What goes unreported, is that many allegations of misconduct started with our own internal investigations. The Department remains committed to protecting the community in an honest way. The officers who live by our core values of Service, Leadership, Integrity and Fair Treatment to All, refuse to have their good names tarnished by those who don’t. We hope that the headlines you see send a message—that anything less than the highest of standards won’t be tolerated by us just as it won’t be tolerated by you.

A Thankful Department

Late last night, an undercover St. Louis police officer was shot. You can find the details here. Our officer is going to be okay and to say we’re all thankful would be an understatement. Over the weekend, three police officers were shot and killed in Pittsburgh. St. Louis extends our condolences. I know that had the circumstances been even just slightly different, our officer may not have been so lucky. Many people are quick to point out imperfections in police officers and police departments. I don’t have a problem with that—constructive criticism can only make us better. Still, I hope that those who always find time to point fingers, can also find time to say thank you to the police officers on the street who are putting their lives on the line everyday, trying to keep all of us safe.

One Man’s Trash….

For many years, when citizens found items, they’d often call the police department and we’d come pick them up. I’m not talking about weapons, working DVD players, laptops and other electronics—we can check the serial numbers on all of those items to see if they’ve been reported stolen. I’m not talking about a discarded purse where the contents clearly appear to have been picked through—that could be evidence from a robbery. The found items we see most often fall into a few categories: broken electronic equipment, mangled car parts and kids bicycles. All of these items are stored in our property custody area at police headquarters—in the same space where we store evidence. In January, we stopped accepting those found items. Why? Well, to say the quarters are cramped would be an understatement. We have items piled up, filling old jail cells, in just about every space imaginable. To put it bluntly, we can’t run the risk that we don’t have space to store evidence, because we’re storing a tire. (And yes, we literally have flat tires that have been turned in as found property.) If you’re asking how we got to this point, well, I’ll tell you what I know.

We have to get permission from prosecutors to purge items that were once seized for evidence, but that are now no longer needed. We have thousands of items that fall in that category. We’re working with the Circuit Attorney to get rid of those items but it’s taking some time for everyone to go through the evidence to ensure that it is indeed, no longer vital. Reason two that has property custody packed, is that when found property goes unclaimed, the Department usually auctions it. The proceeds go to the Police Relief Association, which helps police officers and their families when officers are killed or injured, among other things. Well the Department hasn’t auctioned items for about two years for a few reasons. Among them, we switched from an on-site auction to a website auction in 2006. Since it was our first time doing that, we wanted to examine the process after a year to see if we liked how it worked and then decide whether we should continue to use it. The year came and went but the examination never happened. Meanwhile, property kept building up. The last reason property custody is full is that for some time the property custody area was understaffed—the idea two or three people being able to efficiently move tens of thousands of items in and out is downright laughable.

We’ve taken steps to fix the problems in property custody. We’ve proposed a budget item that would allow us to build a new facility, although in these tough fiscal times, we realize that might not happen. So in the meantime, we’re looking at other options for storing property. We’ve increased staffing. We’re working with the Circuit Attorney’s office to purge old evidence. We’ve launched an area on our website for people to claim property if they believe it’s been turned in here. We’ve begun the legal process to send the unclaimed found property off to auction.

The law doesn’t mandate us to accept found property. Actually, the law is written in a way that makes it quite a hassle for citizens who find property. Chapter 447 of the Revised Missouri State Statute says that citizens who find property must file an affidavit with a circuit clerk, promising that the property is still in the same condition. If no one claims the property, the finder can eventually keep it. That’s asking a lot. Picture it, you’ve found something, you want to do the right thing and get it back to its rightful owner, but you have to take time out of your busy day and go to the courthouse?? Doesn’t seem right. We didn’t think so either, so for years, we’d take it off your hands. I have to tell you, we weren’t getting a lot of calls for items in good condition. I have a sneaking suspicion that when most people find those things, they probably live by the finders, keepers rule. Still, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure right? So when a citizen handed us, in good faith, a rearview mirror from a car, an old basketball hoop, or a television with the screen smashed out, we took it. We also accepted hundreds and hundreds of children’s bicycles. Most of them are in not so great condition, but hey, if you’re 10 years old and lose your bike, the condition of the bike is hardly at the top of your list of concerns!!!

We’re happy when we can help reunite a kid with his/her only legal mode of transportation, but we’re even happier when evidence that we’ve stored is one of the elements that leads to a successful prosecution of a criminal. At this point, we have to choose. Either we continue to collect found property and max out the space in property custody, or we stop collecting found property to save what little space we have for evidence. We chose the latter. I hope you think we made the right decision.

Congratulations Recruit Class 2008-04

Last night recruit class 2008-04 graduated from the Police Academy. After months of studying and rigorous training, 27 men and women can now call themselves St. Louis police officers. The Chief of Police generally makes brief remarks at graduation, thanking the recruits for their willingness to serve and reminding them that though it will almost never be easy, it will almost always be rewarding. Then the president of the recruit class speaks. Officer Susie Lorthridge’s words last night were so powerful and such an example of the kind of police force that every department strives for, that I asked her to send me a copy so I could share some excerpts with you.

It has been a long, tough 28 weeks…………but we made it!

On August 25, 2008 we entered a realm we all hoped would end right here, right now, this very moment, becoming police officers for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Congratulations to my fellow classmates for making it this far, but we know, this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Our time in the Academy has been filled with joy, pain, trials, triumphs, blood, sweat, tears, laughter, love, brotherhood, strength, and resilience. I’m not going to lie, it has not been easy, but more than anything it has been fun.

We were always very well behaved. Whatever the punches were, we rolled with them and that makes me thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful class of people. We are a cornucopia of various thoughts, dreams, ideals and ways of doing things. We are all unique individuals, but welded together great as one unit. We are the true definition of a team. Through it all we stuck together. One person’s weakness was the other person’s strength-- a delicate balance of multiple oneness.

It has been such an honor to have been your class president. I admire each and every one of you. Your relentless drive, passion, competitive spirit and need to win has truly inspired me. You are all my heroes! My brothers and sisters!

Throughout the Academy we have learned many valuable lessons including, but not limited too: Law, Human Behavior, Defensive Tactics, Report Writing, Patrol Tactics, Firearms Training, and life saving First Responder techniques. These levels of training were very necessary and crucial to be taught.

However, there are several other lessons that could not be taught-- lessons we had to own prior to being accepted into the academy….lessons like morals, core values, integrity, leadership, fairness, community, common sense and most of all…………HEART!

Doing the right thing when no one is looking, stepping up to the plate and taking initiative, having a survival mentality and knowing you will make it regardless of how the situation seems. You will conquer! You will win! I have confidence that we all have it. Now let’s go out there and show the City of St. Louis what we’re made of.

If I have one message to you, my class 2008-04, take all those things with you everyday, no matter where you are. We are the future of this department and the burden of public perception lies on our shoulders. We must be who we want to see in the world. We must be who we want to come to our aid call. We must treat others like we want to be treated, and most of all, we must be respectful. We must be respectful and forever vigil.

To the 2008-05 class, you all are next. Hang in there. Remember that respect is earned and humility goes a long way. You will always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so take every opportunity you can to make yourself better………..and NEVER GIVE UP!

Congratulations recruit class 2008-04. Stay safe. Now go make your family, our community and yourselves proud.

Tough Times, Tough Calls

There’s no escaping the bad news about the economy. And with tight economies, come tight budgets. At this week’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting, I presented a proposal for the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget. (The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.) The total dollar amount: $168 million. With a proposed budget allocation of $150 million from the city of St. Louis, that’s a difference of $18 million. That’s quite a gap to close! There are certainly some items in the budget that the command staff will review and decide are not absolute necessities. There are others that we will decide we can’t go one more year without including in the budget.

In the past, when the Department’s had to make cuts to the budget, money for police cars was among the first items to go. That’s left us with almost no choice today. We’re nearing a point where one-third of our police cars have more than 100,000 miles. By the end of 2009, nearly one-half of our police cars will have more than 100,000 miles. Older cars mean more frequent repair bills, but that’s the smaller worry. In the worst case scenario, we could face a situation where police response in an emergency situation could be impacted or officer safety could be compromised. We have to replace these cars now.

The Department is in the midst of switching to an interoperable radio system that will allow police, firefighters, EMS and multiple others in the city and the region to communicate in an emergency. You may remember that the inability to communicate was deemed a major hindrance to rescue efforts on 9/11 in New York City. Though bond issues and grants are paying for many of the costs associated with this new system, the Department will need additional money for support components. This system is too important to risk it not functioning properly in a disaster situation.

The Department handles incoming 911 calls for police, fires, and EMS. We need more employees to handle those calls. Though no callers received a busy signal in all of 2008, and 87% of 911 calls are answered within 3 rings, if you’re the person making the call to 911 in an emergency, even three rings can seem like a very long time. These are high-stress positions with a degree of responsibility that few people can imagine. I’m proud of the job our employees do, and we owe it to them and the citizens of St. Louis to have adequate staffing levels.

The Department’s property custody division is in the midst of a top to bottom overhaul. Property custody is the area where seized property, recovered property and found property is stored. Currently, those items are stored in the former prisoner processing and handling area. In other words--the old jail. And to say the area is packed is an understatement. Items are stored just about every place you can imagine. It’s another area that was let go for too many years. A recent audit by an evidence expert yielded this remark: the storage methods we currently have are among “the most inefficient possible.” We’ve made great progress in the past few months with changes to security and handling. However, other major police departments that have had major scandals related to property, have often had to build an entirely new facility to store that property. We have certainly had some problems, but have not faced a crisis as many other Departments have. We don’t want to reach a point where the prosecution of a criminal is harmed due to problems with evidence. A new facility is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

The question of course, is how many of these items are necessities now. Those four areas alone equal more than $9 million.

In a year where the City of St. Louis has been forced to ask many departments to cut their budgets, our $150 million allocation is actually an increase. I’m grateful for that and grateful that the city is obviously committed to the safety of its citizens and visitors.

You deserve the best possible police service. The men and women I work alongside at the Metropolitan Police Department are committed to doing everything we can to deliver. But there’s no mistaking---the tough times, make for tough calls. I’ll keep you posted as we move through the process.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! (Safely, of course…)

One day and counting until St. Louis’ biggest party of the year—Mardi Gras.

The beads are flying off the shelves at local stores, bar owners are stocking up for capacity crowds, and police officers are preparing to keep it all under control. That’s where you come in.

We certainly want everyone to have a good time. After all, there are definitely better ways to spend Mardi Gras than in handcuffs! So to make sure your Mardi Gras is fun, safe and memorable for all of the right reasons, here’s your roadmap.

1) Park where it’s legal. Remember, the parade route on 7th Street is off-limits. So is the “red zone”—bordered by Gravois, Marion, Broadway and Shenandoah. Soulard residents are allowed to park in the “yellow zone” if they have the proper documents displayed in their vehicle. Anyone else parked in the yellow zone is subject to being ticketed or towed. The yellow zone is bordered by Lynch, Interstate 55, Shenandoah and 7th Street.

2) The portable toilets are there for a reason. If you’re caught in the act of…well…not using the portable toilets, you’ll be subject to arrest.

3) Anyone engaging in lewd or indecent conduct is also subject to arrest. Leave the Mardi Gras flashing to the movies.

4) If you’re not 21, skip the liquor. Officers will be on the lookout for underage drinkers.

The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department will be out in full force on Saturday. We certainly don’t want to ruin the party, but we do want to make sure this huge event, runs as smoothly as possible.

So let the good times roll! But please make sure the good times don’t turn into a bad story involving a court date!