BY CINDY TOOPES COURIER STAFF WRITER
May 12, 2008 11:23 pm
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OTTUMWA — The city has “real gangs and real problems,” Police Chief Jim Clark told the City Council during Monday’s special meeting.
“The days of ‘wanna-be’ gangs are over. We have hard-core members now and the Latin Kings have been recruiting sixth-graders,” Clark said.
The chief hopes the council will approve applying for a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant that would provide for three officers for three years. Federal officials invited the city to make application, he added.
Clark isn’t sure three are needed, unless Ottumwa school district decides they still want a second officer at Ottumwa High School. The chief definitely wants two officers.
“One officer would be a full-time gang investigator,” Clark said. “He would collect information, investigate it, collaborate with school officials, juvenile court officers and probation/parole officers and work with the parents of gang members.”
The second one would be a full-time traffic officer who will spend his time enforcing all city and state traffic laws in an effort to reduce the number of accidents and the resulting damages and injuries.
But Clark cautioned the council. Participating in the COPS grant means the city must fund those positions after the grant expires. The chief said the city has done so before.
“We had a housing authority officer and the Ottumwa Housing Authority picked up the costs,” Clark said. “We have an officer at Evans Middle School and that position was originally a COPS officer. The school pays for that now.”
There was also a COPS officer at Quincy Place Mall and the mall kept the position for four years or so, then decided to use private security. Clark said there was a fourth officer who was assigned general patrol duties.
“After three years, the city had money trouble — Everco closed, along with other problems — and couldn’t pay for the officer,” the chief said.
Federal officials didn’t require the city to pay back the money. But, since then, many cities have accepted the grant but couldn’t keep the position going.
Clark said if the city proceeds with the grant application, then the city has to keep the officers or pay back the funds.
Another issue is matching funds required by the grant. Clark believes the traffic officer will generate a new stream of revenue that will cover the matching funds.
Councilman Gordon Aistrope asked if the gangs officer will get special training.
The chief said the officer will “get considerable gang training” and will be part of the Midwest Gang Intelligence Network.
Councilman Bob Meyers said proceeding with the grant application was a “pro-active” move. The next five years will bring the Job Corps development and police would have more help to cover that area.
Bringing in more revenue and getting “a handle on gangs” sounded “worthwhile” to Councilwoman Shannon Addison.
“This could also attract new business,” she added.
“Malls are being taken over by gangs and we don’t want that here,” Clark said.
Mayor Dale Uehling agreed.
“One of the benefits of Ottumwa is to feel safe. It affects the quality of life,” he added.
Councilman Mitch Niner asked if the police department has enough cars to handle three more officers.
“I think we have enough now — if they’re all running,” he said.
Strengthening crime prevention is needed more than ever, according to Councilman Keith Caviness.
“People are afraid to be downtown after dark,” he said.
“We’re going to put a full-time officer on duty in the downtown area,” Clark said. “Whether we apply for two or three officers will depend on the school district.”
The mayor asked for a consensus from the council and the members indicated they wanted Clark to proceed. The COPS grant application will be formally presented for council approval in June.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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