SECURITY INCREASED SINCE REAGAN SHOT, EX-POLICE CHIEF SAYS

Securing the city for a presidential visit is almost a routine procedure for former Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr.

Boyd has worked on security details for six prominent visits during his 26-year tenure as a police officer.

During a Clinton-Gore campaign visit Friday, he had more intense work as chief of security for Southeast Missouri Hospital. The hospital is across the street from Capaha Park where the Democratic rally was held.

President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and their wives, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tipper Gore, visited Cape Girardeau as their first stop on the "Road to the 21st Century" bus tour.

"This is a lot more intense," Boyd said. The security has been increased at every visit since President Reagan was shot, he said.

Boyd first worked on a political security team when Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy visited in 1968.

"Every campaign year after that, we've had a major candidate visit," Boyd said. "But this is the first time we've had the president and vice president. It probably won't happen again."

There were no major security problems at the park Friday, although the police department did receive two anonymous phone calls Thursday about harming the president.

Presidential visits by William Howard Taft and Ronald Reagan, both Republicans, also passed without security problems. Clinton is the first Democratic sitting president to visit Cape Girardeau.

Sue Evitts only had to walk to a neighbor's home along Broadway to see the president. Evitts lives along North Louisiana, about two blocks from Capaha Park where the president spoke.

"We could hear everything but we had lawn chairs, so it was great," she said. Chairs were not allowed in the park. With binoculars, Evitts and her friends were able to see the president and vice president clearly.

Although visitors had to walk in front of her home, Evitts was glad there were no mobs of people in the yards. Police roped off the area so visitors walked two blocks farther to reach the entrances.

Lines wrapped around the lagoon and park's perimeter, but there were no serious problems, police said. Officers patrolled the park perimeter before the rally.

Secret Service agents couldn't talk about the security at the park, but some did stop for photos with the crowd. Others chatted with visitors as they walked through metal detectors and were searched inside the park. There were at least 15 agents at each entrance. Others were stationed around the park. Around 9:30 a.m., the park was closed completely for a security sweep.

Paul Kipper, a resident who lives at 1251 Normal Ave., saw people begin lining up at 9.

But Kipper waited at home until later in the afternoon. "I've got tickets and I'm not anxious to stand in that line," he said.

Members of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church youth group used the Kipper's yard to their advantage.

All pedestrian traffic was routed by the house before entering the park, so the youth set up a lemonade stand to help raise money for an upcoming trip to New Orleans.

Brian Vent, who lives along West End Boulevard, didn't mind being stuck at home today. Most of the traffic was detoured near his home.

"We weren't told we couldn't leave, but I didn't think I would be able to until after 6 p.m. when he gets to Illinois," he said of the president's visit. "I don't mind because I'm off work."

Streets throughout the city were congested after the rally as police directed visitors away from the park. Shuttle buses ran continuously from West Park Mall to Capaha Park.