The Citizens Police Committee

I have asked 10 business owners / operators, and citizens to become participating members of the Bloomfield Citizens Police Committee.

If a member of the community has concerns, issues, or questions but does not feel comfortable bringing them to attention of the Chief, Mayor, or a Council member they may, if they choose to do so, bring them to the attention of the committee members. Committee members will bring these concerns, issues, or questions to the Police Chief on your behalf and you can remain anonymous, if you so desire.

Objective of the committee: To increase the quality of public relations between the members and staff of the police department and the members of the community.

Operational function of the committee: The committee shall meet every other month on the 3rd Thursday to review a prepared report and presentation given by the Chief of Police. The committee shall also bring forth any concerns, complaints, or questions to the Chief of Police and / or his staff. The Chief shall address each issue brought forth by the committee. The committee shall have no governing authority over the Police Department, as the department is ruled and governed by ways and means established by City Ordinances.

MEMBERS:
SANDY SMART
TRINA EDWARDS
DAWN KUNKLE
DWIGHT HENSLEY
MICHAEL CHARLES
JERRY ELDER
BROCK WILLIAMS
SCOTT GIBBS
KD JONES
COREY NOLES

The first meeting is set for Nov. 20th!

The web site for the committee is: http://citizenspolicecommittee.weebly.com/

It will be updated soon after the first meeting!

DWI ARRESTS FOR THE YEAR - SO FAR

AS OF 10/10/2008

ALL PERSONS ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW

Tiffany Fuchs 1/15/08 DWI 1ST

Martin Main 5/17/08 DWI 1ST / ASSAULT ON LEO

Donald J. Kimbrel 5/23/08 DWI 3RD / FELONY

Daniel Summers 7/1/08 DWI 2ND / POSS. MARJ.

Terry Mikoliza 7/23/08 DWI 1ST

Franklin Mccollom 10/7/08 DWI 2ND

We have all seen her

There has been a lot of questions, rumors, and concerns over a lady that walks our town at all hours of the day and night.  She is usually seen carrying a stick or a pipe.  

I have had people ask me a multitude of questions about her.  I have only had two complaints about her and only on one of those complaints was I able to legally do anything.  In that particular complaint she had shaken her stick at some people on school grounds.  I had permission from a principal to ban her from school property.  She was notified and to the best of our knowledge she has not set foot on school property since then.  In that case no one wished to pursue charges against her.

Rumors like to spread in this town like wildfire.  Just this Sunday morning a citizen called me at home and advised me that he had heard that she was struck by a car and killed the previous evening.  I advised him there was no truth to this.

About an hour or so ago I received a call at home that Asst. Chief Malone was roadside with her and that she was carrying a revolver.  I responded to the scene.  She was carrying on her hip a very old rusted up unloaded revolver.  Asst. Chief Malone confiscated the revolver and charged her with peace disturbance.  She was also ordered not to be carrying any sticks or any other weapons around town.  If everybody else can walk through town without fear of being assaulted then so can she.  If she is too afraid to walk through Bloomfield without a weapon of some sort then she might want to consider staying at home or walking with a friend.

If anybody has any questions or concerns about anything please feel free to call me.

A REOCURRING PROBLEM

A REOCURRING PROBLEM - DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE

 There seems to be a reocurring problem with people who have a revoked or suspended driver license thinking they can continue to break the law and drive anyway.  It is also against Missouri State Law to allow someone who does not have a valid license to operate a vehicle that you own or are in charge of. The following people have been arrested for driving without a valid license in Bloomfield in the past few weeks:

HAROLD WHITE - REVOKED - 09/02/2008

LEESHA HAWKINS - SUSPENDED (TN) - 09/05/2008

RENE LACK-TROTTER - SUSPENDED - 09/23/2008

JASON MUSGRAVE - SUSPENDED - 09/26/2008

JASON MUSGRAVE - SUSPENDED - 09/29/2008

JASON MUSGRACE - SUSPENDED - 10/03/2008

By Missouri Law the 3rd conviction of driving without a valid license is a felony!

QUESTIONS ABOUT AN INCIDENT

Regarding the following article:  http://www.semissourian.com/article/20080906/NEWS01/709069996/-1/news01

Questions have been raised about why the Bloomfield Police was not mentioned in the paper.  The fact is that the Bloomfield Police Department was not involved in the investigation.  The Bloomfield Police Department did assist the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department with the arrests, at their request.  The total time of our department's involvement was less than 15 minutes.  As far as this not being in the paper, the Bloomfield Police Department's participation in this operation was minimal at best.  My thanks to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Task Force for doing a job well done.

City Computers

There has recently been a directive issued from our Mayor that the website TOPIX is not to be accessed by city employees on city computers. The Mayor is in charge of daily operations of the city and has full authority to issue such a directive.

Topix is a very destructive website. People get on it and make outlandish accusations against one another. It is very addicting in nature. I myself at times have gone there and read the latest gossip. On one occasion a crime was mentioned and I posted to an individual that they needed to get a hold of me, which they did. The nature of a site like Topix is, as I said, very destructive.

In compliance with the Mayor's lawful order, on 7/11/2008 I went a step further and had the computers at the Bloomfield Police Department to electronically block all users from access to Topix.

I would like to add that the computers in our office are a necessary part of day to day operations.
We log all calls for service, racial profiling, accident reports, business security checks, and all criminal reports. We also maintain a database of names and businesses. We also calculate and submit UCR reports which are mandated by the government. Monthly reports are also generated and submitted. Soon State DWI tracking reports may be submitted.

In the months to come an RFID Business security check system called "GuardScan" will be implemented. This will increase patrol productivity and accountability. Also a GPS logging system may also be utilized to study patrol routines and increase productivity. I have found ways to initiate these two programs at very little cost.

Two Arrested for Distribution

A tip Saturday morning led to the seizure of more than 12 oz. of marijuana in Bloomfield.

According to Bloomfield Chief of Police Jason Curtman, following the tip, Officer Travis Stafford observed the suspect driving his vehicle through a stop sign and pulled him over.

Following a search of the vehicle, police discovered 11-1 ounce bags of marijuana and a set of digital scales used for weighing the drugs. Police also seized two-ounces of marijuana from someone the accused had sold to only moments before.

Police arrested Michael Wayne Houston, 34 of Bloomfield, and charged him with distribution of a controlled substance. Brian Eugene Turner, 34 of Bloomfield, was also charged with distribution of a controlled substance. Both men are currently housed in Stoddard County Jail with bond set at $125,000.

Curtman said that Asst. Chief Cheryl Malone had been working on this case for quite some time when the tip came in.

Police value the marijuana at approximately $1,235, or 12 ounces between the 13 bags collected.

Curtman said he was very pleased with his department's performance and quick action. He said he also wanted to thank the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department for their work in transporting the suspects.

"Cheryl [Malone] is an outstanding investigator and has been an asset to our department," Curtman said Monday. "Stafford has only been with the department for a short time, but we're very glad to have him."

Houston and Turner will both be arraigned this week.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

There has been some moronic concern about the cost of this operation.
Well, there was 1/4 of a gallon of gas that was burned while waiting 10 minutes for the vehicle to move and then the traffic stop itself. Stafford was working his regular shift. I came in on my day off to see the job got done and did not claim any comp time. Asst. Chief Malone worked 3 hours on the assignment.

So the total cost of the entire operation was about (give or take a few pennies) $32.46.


Well worth keeping two proactive drug dealers off the streets and away from our children.