LETTERS: OFFICER HAMMONDS HAD KEY ROLE IN GED

To the editor:

In reference to the Nov. 11 article, "Alternative school ready to open in Cape":

The article states the Salvation Army has recently hired a community service director, Scott Porter, "who has added GED and Adult Basic Education classes at the Salvation Army building." I know Scott Porter personally and encouraged the Salvation Army to hire him. He has been a catalyst in the community for providing programs for the youth of the community and is an excellent addition to the staff.

Although Scott is helping coordinate the GED program on the site, the program was in place when he came on board. The GED program at the Salvation Army became a reality because of the dream of Officer Ike Hammonds of the Cape Girardeau Police Department's community policing program. Officer Hammonds has worked on the GED program at an off-site location for several months. He spent many hours working with the Adult Basic Education office at the vocational-technical school and with Capt. Gauthier of the Salvation Army.

Officer Hammonds was able to recruit Jan Wigfall, fifth-grade teacher at May Greene School, to be the teacher for the GED classes. She attended certification courses this summer to teach the class. Next, Officer Hammonds had to personally recruit students for the class. He also helped work out administrative problems between the Salvation Army and the school district. Once the class was up and running, Officer Hammonds then quietly stepped back to allow the Salvation Army and Adult Basic Education to run the program.

Officer Hammonds saw a need for the GED programs in the southeastern part of Cape Girardeau. Since there is no formal transportation system in place, students aren't inclined to walk all the way to the vo-tech school on Clark Street, especially at night. Therefore, the GED classes needed to be near the students. Adults attending classes are great role models for the youths. Receiving a GED certificate will help raise the self-esteem of the students. It is hoped that the youth will stay in school if they see their parents in school. This will, in turn, motivate persons to become productive members of their neighborhood.

One of the goals of community policing is to improve the quality of life for those served. Establishing partnerships with other groups and agencies is vital in providing programs for the residents to achieve a common goal. This is how the GED program at the Salvation Army became a reality. Officer Hammonds was able to bring these groups together to provide for the community.

Scott Porter will, indeed, bring good things to the Salvation Army. But for clarification of the article, it was Officer Hammonds who had the dream and brought it to life.

I appreciate the Southeast Missourian and its positive reporting of and support for the Cape Girardeau Police Department in its endeavors to provide for our community.

CHARLES HERBST, Officer

Cape Girardeau Police Department