SCOTT CITY: POLICE PROCEDURES COME UNDER OFFICIALS' SCRUTINY

SCOTT CITY -- Procedures in the Scott City Police Department have come under fire from some city officials, especially over the use of reserve officers.

But the police chief and reserve chief defend the use of reserve or unpaid officers and say they are more than adequately trained and monitored, and help curb crime in the city.

At an open forum Tuesday, City Council members and those running for city office were asked what they would do to "improve the police department."

One councilman called for new leadership while another said the police force "just needs to be brought back in line."

Councilman Ron Oller called for "new leadership" in the department and said the Police Personnel Board, which hears citizens' complaints against the police department, needs to have greater disciplinary power.

The board hears citizen complaints against the department and can recommend disciplinary actions to the mayor and police chief, but it is not allowed to hand out suspensions or other disciplinary measures. The mayor and chief are not required to carry out the board's recommendations.

Councilman John Rogers, who said the police force "just needs to be brought back in line," said recent actions by some reserve officers have left townspeople feeling harassed.

"I don't want to harp on this issue, but it's something the council definitely needs to deal with, and I feel the people of this town need some answers," he said.

Rogers said citizens have come to him with reports of reserve officers making unnecessary traffic stops. He also said he's filed two complaints against the department for similar infractions.

Oller and Rogers are both running for re-election.

But in a separate interview the police chief and reserve chief said the department is being unjustly accused of letting reserve officers patrol the streets without proper training. Police Chief David Beck said training given to reserve officers exceeds that required by the state.

Each officer must complete 120 hours of state-required training and then complete a field training program in the department. Even when that training is completed, the officers are not put on the street until the chief is satisfied they are ready. The City Council must also approve all appointments to the reserve force.

The chief said he's confident that the reserve force is not guilty of harassment and they are at least as qualified if not more qualified than members of his regular force. He said several of the reserve officers have bachelor's degrees or will soon obtain bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.

"The only thing they lack is experience," Beck said.

The chief of the reserve force, Lloyd Young, also defends his officers.

"These are not vigilantes," he said. "People feel that the reserve officers are not real cops, but they are."

There are nine reserve officers, four of whom are qualified to work the streets by themselves. Three of the officers are third- and fourth-year college students studying criminal justice.

The conduct of the reserve officers drew even more scrutiny after an accident Sunday when a reserve officer, John Blakely, was backing his patrol car over railroad tracks in the city's east side and the car became stuck in the tracks. He was unable to free the car before it was hit by an oncoming train.

Blakely was not hurt, but the car was a total loss. The city council has voted to use money from the city's emergency fund to cover the cost of replacing the car. The insurance deductible is $1,000, according to Oller.

Beck said Blakely is not at fault and that the whole thing was an accident. He said without the use of reserve officers the city would have to hire more officers, something it cannot afford to do. There are five policemen on the force in addition to Beck.

But tempers flared at a Monday meeting of the City Council, when resident Randy Newell said townspeople feel reserve officers continue to harass citizens. His sentiments were echoed by Councilman Jerry Cummins but discounted by Councilwoman Brenda Moyers.

At the forum Tuesday, questions about the police department nearly overshadowed the candidates' campaign statements and questions on taxes.

Mayoral candidate Larry Forhan referred to the department as having a reputation of "Keystone Cops."

Even Edith Davidson, a council candidate who has long been supportive of the police department, said the problem "needs to be addressed."

Kenny Holder, who is running for a council seat, suggested a citizens appeal board be established to take the place of the Police Personnel Board, whose members are appointed by the mayor.

Some city officials say the upcoming election will be followed by personnel changes in the police department and the establishment of new disciplinary procedures.

But for now Police Personnel Board member Larry Angle may have summed it up best Monday when he urged citizens to trust those now in office. He said, "This is just bad P.R. for the department and the city."