DEPUTY CHIEF'S MESSAGE

On Patrol with Picayune Police
By Deputy Chief David Ervin

                                                                       Photograph by: Carolyn Terry Photography

August 6, 2008

On Patrol with Picayune Police by Deputy Chief David R. Ervin

The month of July went by in a flash for the Picayune Police Department as we continued to serve and protect the community in many ways. The police department began preparing for schools to begin so we would be ready for the August start date.

Now that school has began we remind you to obey the posted 20 mph speed limit in the School Zones. The School Zones are in effect from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. throughout the Picayune School District, so slow down watch out for the children in those areas. The School Zone on Goodyear Boulevard, 5^th Avenue, Kirkwood Street, Rosa Street, South Beech Street, Gilcrease Street, and Third Street are strictly enforce during the entire school day from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The fines for speeding in a School Zone is double the cost of the usual speeding citation.

Also remember watch for the School Buses as they stop to pick up and drop off the children in the community. Citations will be written to violators for passing a stopped School Bus while it is picking up or dropping off the children in the community. The fine for passing a school bus while picking up or dropping off passengers can be up to $500.00 and up to a year in jail. We ask the motoring public to use caution when approaching a school bus and while driving through the School Zones. We must do all we can to keep our children safe as they return to school.

Training was again an important factor in the month of July; as we had the Picayune Police Chaplain, Reverend Darrell Worley, attend the International Conference for Police Chaplains in Mobile, Alabama during the week of July 7^th. Chaplain training is important to the police department as well as the entire community in that the Police Chaplain serves the officers and citizens alike in many important, and sometimes tragic, situations. We are very blessed to have Reverend Worley serving as Chaplain for our police department. Officer Jake Schumacher attended and successfully completed the basic training for School Resource Officers, conducted by the Institute for School Safety. Attending a training class, on effective verbal skills in achieving law enforcement objectives, were Lieutenant Ray Rickoll, Sergeant Josh English, Officer John Mix, Officer Chris Wagner, and Officer Daniel McCorey. The training was titled “Persuasive Skills for Law Enforcement” Also Captain Lawrence Krantz and myself attended training conducted through the United States Attorney’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security. David Harel, Retired Director, of the Israeli Security Agency, instructed the training. This training was very detailed in reference to suicide bombers and self-sacrificing shooters. The training prepared officers for such incidents and how to defend against the possible situations. Detective Constance Myers attended Domestic Violence Law Updates Seminar in Ocean Springs, Ms the training was conducted by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. This seminar covered the new Legislative Updates, Death Notification, Domestic Violence Dynamics, and Domestic Violence Laws and Procedures. The training provided to the Picayune Police Officers insure you the citizen of a well trained and effective police department serving and protecting your community. Most of the training was of no cost to the taxpayers.

July calls for service totaled 3,245 during the month. Officers made the following arrests, 10 felony drug arrests, 30 misdemeanor drug arrests, 54 warrant arrests, 79 misdemeanor crime arrests, and 8 arrests for felony crimes against persons and or property.

Traffic Enforcement resulted in the following citations, 79 hazardous moving violations, 129 non-hazardous moving violations, three child restraint violations, 40 seat belt violations and 20 DUI violations for the month of July

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