Citizens Step Into Police Shoes for Nine-Week Academy

The South County Precinct of the St. Louis County Police is hosting a free, .

The academy will focus on different departments and aspects of police service and will include a trip to the academy and a graduation ceremony. Each week, Patch will give a summary of the academy and the lessons provided.

For information on how to join the CPA, call the Fourth Precinct at 314-892-1510 or email Southcountyprecinct@stlouisco.com. 

Aug. 25 marked the first academy’s lesson, which was an introduction of the weeks to come and information from the Highway Patrol unit.

Officer Mike Schira kicked off the 65-person academy with an overview of South County Precinct. The area stretches from Lemay until the Meramec River and from the Mississippi River to Highway 55. The 34 square miles covers more than 90,000 residents.

Schira also addressed the growing number of police officer deaths.

“We’ve been outmanned and outgunned by criminals,” Schira said. “But we get into this business knowing we may have to take someone’s life."

Quick 2010 Crime Statistics

St. Louis County Police

Fourth Precinct

Total Calls

341,098

64,032

Arrests

18,705

4,079

DWIs

1,110

209

Tickets Issued

80,045

14,423

Accidents Reported

13,910

2,923

Karl Streckfuss from the Highway Safety Unit took over, jokingly saying the unit has been “making peoples’ day since 2002,” when it was formed.

He advised attendees about the latest technology in catching speeding vehicles. The department’s Dodge Charger police cars are equipped with lasers that emit a small beam of light, eliminating confusion as to which car is speeding.

Struckfess said when a driver sees a car pulled over by police on a highway, more than 100 cars see that police car and those drivers will modify their speed for the next 45 minutes. 

The Highway Patrol unit also sets up sobriety checkpoints.

“One in 10 drivers after 10:30 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday night is driving while intoxicated,” he said.

On average, the unit sees eight or nine DWIs for three to four hours at a checkpoint. 

Highway Patrol Records

Fasted Speed Caught

149 mph

Fasted Speed Measured

195 mph

Highest Blood Alcohol Content Recorded

.426 (almost five times the legal limit)

CPA Schedule:

Aug 25: Introduction and Highway Patrol

Sept. 1: Drug and K-9 Units

Sept 8: Crimes Against Persons

Sept 15: Neighborhood Watch Picnic

Sept 22: Bomb and Arson Unit and Tactical Operations (SWAT Team)

Sept. 29: Field trip to the Police Academy

Oct 6: Crime Lab

Oct 13: Sex Offender and Crime Scene Units

Oct 20: Graduation