STATE CRIME COMMISSION URGES INCREASED TRAINING FOR OFFICERS

Missouri Attorney General William Webster told local law enforcement officials Friday that Missouri should increase training requirements for law officers.

Webster held a press conference at Cape Girardeau's City Hall to announce recommendations drafted by the Governor's Commission on Crime, a group he heads consisting of 43 officials from around the state.

Earlier this year, the commission held hearings across the state to hear law enforcement officials' concerns. Webster said the recommendations of the commission will be used to provide support for needed legislation.

Webster praised the Cape Girardeau Police Department, which imposes higher training requirements on its officers than what is required by Missouri law. But he said Missouri ranks last nationally in terms of minimum training requirements.

"This report and these recommendations include a very strong emphasis on a higher need for training," Webster said.

"If Missouri doubled its training requirements, we would still be 50th out of 50 (states). It's an area (in which) we can't afford not to make an investment."

Other recommendations in the crime commission's report call for establishment of regional jails, statewide support for the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, mandatory reporting by police agencies of domestic violence incidents, and judicial reforms to prevent trial delays.

Webster also said the report suggests investigation of alternatives to jail, such as "boot camps" for first-time, youthful offenders.

"We're really bursting at the seams in our jails and prisons," he said. "We want to look into a program where a first-time offender would have the option of going to a boot-camp facility instead of the penitentiary."

Webster said inmates would be forced to receive educational training in a disciplined, structured environment outside of the prison system. He said that given the $20,000 average annual cost to taxpayers per prisoner, the camps also would save money.

"We have reason to believe if we invest in these sorts of facilities, we won't have to invest as much in our prison system," he said. "It's a better outcome than just warehousing prisoners in the state penitentiary."

Local officials said they were pleased with the commission's recommendations.

Capt. Steve Strong of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said that although the city already has adequate training requirements, an increase in the minimum state requirements would benefit the department.

"If they will increase the amount of training, then we won't have to spend as much on extra training when we get officers from other departments," Strong said.

"I don't believe the state's minimum requirement of 120 hours adequately prepares someone to go on the streets and defend the law."

Other recommendations in the report include:

Establishment of a broad-based law enforcement council to create 10-year goals for Missouri law endorsement officers.

Removal of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's funding cap, and more search and seizure powers for the patrol.

Establishment of a broad-based task force to study the creation of a regional jail system, and construction of additional jail space.

Formation of a task force to redraft the juvenile code.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd said he supports the commission's recommendations.

"It looks good," he said. "I'm particularly happy with the focus on increased training. I also support expanded search and seizure powers for the highway patrol."

Earlier this year, local officials said they wanted the state to increase funding for the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab in Cape Girardeau and programs that work to deter children from experimenting with illegal drugs.

Webster said the commission has addressed the problem in its report. "The state needs to focus on crime labs," he said. "If we don't fund these labs, that will all fall on Jefferson City and the highway patrol."

Boyd also told the commission that the SEMO Drug Task Force needs additional state funding. It's the largest such task force in the state in terms of area, yet receives the same amount of funding as similar agencies with much smaller jurisdictions.

Webster said a lack of funding is a common concern in law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and that he hopes legislation can be approved to ease the state budget crunch.

Another issue, which is particularly a concern of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, is the cost of transporting prisoners. Webster said the regional jail approach recommended by the commission is one way to save on transportation and personnel costs.

The attorney general said he thinks the Missouri legislature will support the recommendations in the report. "I think it will be bi-partisan in its support, and I think it is a very good probability that it will pass," he said.

Larry Ferrell, assistant U.S. attorney from Cape Girardeau, and Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, were among the 43 members of the commission.

Included in the commission's report are general crime statistics in Missouri. The commission found that at least one in 20 Missourians were affected by crime last year. Violent crimes victimized more than 36,000 Missourians, and more than 250,000 citizens in the state were affected by property crimes.