ADVANCE POLICE CHIEF MAY MOONLIGHT AS DELTA TOWN MARSHAL

DELTA -- If all goes right, Advance Police Chief Don Cecil could soon be moonlighting as a part-time town marshal for Delta.

The Delta Board of Aldermen met with Cecil for about an hour Monday night to discuss the situation. No final decision was made, but Alderman Woody Rooker said Tuesday that he's "hopeful" that a part-time town marshal can be hired within the next 30 days.

The next regular meeting of the town board is May 6, but Rooker said city officials may hold a closed-door meeting before that date to discuss the matter.

"Things are falling into place now," said Rooker. "From the offer that he (Cecil) made, it looks very appealing."

But Rooker added that Delta city officials are still exploring all the options.

"We want to make sure that there is no conflict with his (Cecil's) present employer. We want to make sure that there are no conflicts with the (Cape County) sheriff's office, that they feel comfortable with our choice," said Rooker.

Currently, Delta, with a population of about 500, has no local law enforcement. The small town in southwestern Cape County has experienced burglaries and vandalism, as well as "hot rodding."

The only law enforcement is provided by the sheriff's department.

City officials have said they would like to hire a full-time marshal, but can't afford it on the town's limited budget.

"We are wanting to protect the community and our homes and our families," said Rooker.

Cecil said Tuesday that he proposed serving as town marshal for Delta in an effort to help a neighboring town with its law enforcement problems.

Delta is located only about 12 miles from Advance.

"I'm basically just trying to help them out," said Cecil.

He said that he has proposed handling the law enforcement duties in Delta on a part-time basis, with the assistance of the president of Advance's neighborhood watch program. Cecil said the man is currently completing a 120-hour basic law enforcement training program at Southeast Missouri State University.

Cecil maintained that he can handle the duties of a part-time marshal and still perform his job as Advance's police chief.

But he said he would not take the part-time job without the approval of the Advance city council. Cecil said he plans to ask the council for permission to serve as Delta's town marshal.

Cecil has served as Advance's police chief since May 15, 1985. He has worked in full- and part-time positions with the Advance Police Department since 1978.

The police force currently consists of two people, counting Cecil. "I get called out all hours of the night," he said.

During his first four years as police chief, Cecil held another day-time job and worked the night shift for the city.

Over the years, he has also handled some law enforcement tasks for the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department.

"I enjoy police work and I like helping people," said the 51-year-old Cecil.

He noted that small towns have trouble hiring qualified law enforcement officers. "It's hard to get anybody. When you get a guy that's really qualified, he goes to a bigger department where he makes more money."

Cecil said he's a big supporter of neighborhood watch programs, which stress crime prevention.

Delta Alderman Rooker has suggested a neighborhood watch program might be started in his town.

But he added that any such program must be set up with guidance from law enforcement officials.

Rooker said participants would simply be concerned citizens, not vigilantes.

A town marshal, he said, could not only deal with serious crimes, but also enforce city speed limits and other municipal laws.

"Just having somebody sitting out there in a patrol car is going to make someone think twice before they go speeding through a community," he said.

"We're not looking to have a speed trap set up out there on Highway 25 and N Highway," he added. "We just want to control some of the mischief going on in the community."