POLICE CHIEF GIVES TIPS ON PREVENTING WORKPLACE CRIME

The workplace is becoming dangerous, especially considering that murder is the top cause of death for women in the office, said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel.

With that in mind, Hetzel and the Cape Girardeau Police Department have been conducting personal safety seminars at area businesses.

On Friday Hetzel spoke to about 20 employees at the KBSI-TV Fox 23 station and laid out his "common sense approach to personal protection."

Employees of any business can't assume that an unhappy employee or dissatisfied customer won't return to the business for severe revenge. Hetzel said employees should treat threats, harassing phone calls and other employees "blowing off steam" seriously and report those instances to supervisors.

Supervisors in turn should record the events.

"You can't overlook those types of things," Hetzel said. "Almost every instance of a violent act at a business was preceded by these kinds of signals."

Once confronted with a potentially violent person, Hetzel said the best procedure is to stall for time. "Remember, don't panic," he said. "If you have a person that is angry or volatile, the last thing you need to do is panic."

Slowing down a situation, stalling for time, will allow the person a chance to calm down and give the employees a chance to consider their options, Hetzel said. He said convincing the angry person that their problem is the business' top concern can go a long way to diffuse the situation. He said many times that is all the person is looking for.

There should be someone at the business who is trained to take charge and deal with the situation. Also, receptionists or front-office clerks need to have a code word or physical signal that will alert management to a volatile situation without upsetting the person further.

Essentially, the way to head off violent confrontations at work is similar to protecting yourself from personal harm in potentially dangerous situations: Be aware of what's going on around you, Hetzel said.

Hetzel said personal security can come down to taking an additional 30 seconds to take a deep breath and a good look around.

Automatic Teller Machines are prime areas for criminal activity, Hetzel said. "It's the place you go to get cold, hard cash," he said. When approaching an ATM have the transaction prepared in advance. If someone is loitering within proximity of the machine it might be advisable to find another ATM to use.

If you have to get out of your car, lock it and take the keys. "If someone is going to rob you of $20, and they see your car open and idling, they're going to just take the car," Hetzel said.

Hetzel also recommended carrying pepper spray or Mace as a non-lethal deterrent. But, he said, learn to use them and be familiar with their effects.

Body language will reveal a lot to a potential mugger. If you appear able to handle a difficult situation, and that can be conveyed by simply walking tall and looking people in the eye, you might make yourself an unattractive target.

Hetzel said the most effective and least used defense is running away. He said if confronted with someone demanding your money throw you wallet or purse in one direction and run away loudly in the other direction.

Joe Mazza, KBSI vice president and general manager, said employees always have the option to walk out in pairs at night regardless of the time.

Mazza asked Hetzel to give the presentation, only the second the police department has conducted since Hetzel became chief in January.

"We have people leaving the office at odd times," Mazza said. "We also have expensive equipment in here that people wouldn't mind walking away with. So we feel that our employees should be aware, and we have an obligation to create that awareness and have them trained."

Mazza said this is a step to try and head off crime instead of reacting in response to it. "It doesn't pay to just wait until something happens," he said. "It was valuable to me because I heard some things that we now need to do."