POLICE BOARD APPROVED; SPRADLING SAYS BOARD WON'T BE FORMED OVERNIGHT

What began as a suggestion at a town meeting is set to become city policy after the Cape Girardeau City Council agreed Monday night to form an advisory board for the police department.

Last week about 300 people attended a town meeting to discuss their complaints with the police department after a melee occurred June 11 on Good Hope Street. The melee occurred after Cape Girardeau police arrested a man who allegedly attempted to interfere when police tried to stop a suspected drug deal. Eight people were arrested after about 150 people gathered. Some threw objects at police.

At the town meeting, the Rev. David Allen, president of the Cape Girardeau County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, suggested to Mayor Al Spradling III the idea of a citizens advisory board for the police department.

Spradling told the council he would like to see the board have appointed members who would serve to advise the department. He said Police Chief Rick Hetzel is talking to other communities that have similar boards to find out what works and what doesn't.

He said the council should wait until the issue is researched before forming the board.

"We will have a public hearing on this," Spradling said. "This is not something that is going to happen overnight. We are going to have to do some studying."

Councilman Tom Neumeyer said he likes the idea of the board but agrees that the council should take some time before making the final decisions.

"We are actively going to be searching to find what type of board is the most effective for the community," Neumeyer said. "We don't need to reinvent the wheel."

Spradling said the process for the formation of the board should take about two months.

One resident, Mike Ballou, told the council that he opposes the idea of an advisory board because he believes the city has been pressured into forming the board.

"My concern is that we could have a morale problem on the force," Ballou said.

He said the police department acted admirably during the melee and officers showed restraint by not using their guns.

"It is a very difficult job," Ballou said. "It is a very stressful job, and no matter what they do, no one appreciates them."

South Cape Girardeau resident Vera Sterling disagreed. She said she understands that police officers have a stressful job. But she would like to see an advisory board formed to make sure they do their job right.

"I feel that officers do not get appreciated," Sterling said. "But they have a certain standard to follow. When the one in control loses control, that's when we have a melee."