POLICE CHIEF OUTLINES DEPARTMENT EFFORTS IN TIGHT STAFFING TIMES

Chillicothe Police Chief Jeff Keener told City Council Monday an
understaffed police department has plenty to do.

For example, Keener said only one officer, Larry Cox, is now doing Drug
Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) programming in elementary schools.
And though about two-thirds of Cox's salary comes from the general fund,
Keener feels the program should continue.

"I think D.A.R.E. needs to stay just because of the image it gives us
between the kids and police," he said.

"Now, when ... any of us walk in the school, the kids just mob you."

Councilwoman Bart Henshaw, D-At large, said last year the city received
$14,000 in grants for the D.A.R.E. program, which is short of grant funding
that's reached as high as $33,000. Council passed legislation at its last
regular meeting July 26 to apply for funds again, committing $14,781 in
matching funds.

Keener said he wouldn't expect next year's grant to be as high as $14,000.

Council also passed an ordinance at that meeting to accept an $829 donation
to help get the Chillicothe Police's bike patrol up and running again.

Keener said the patrol is used at the discretion of sergeants and
higher-ups on duty when needed. Usually there are two officers sent out on
bike patrol at a time, but the shift's length may vary.

"(It) just depends on the workload," he said. "They may be out there eight
hours, they may be out there two hours."

The police also continue to be active in the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task
Force, taking part in all the recent raids. Keener said one raid netted a
pound of cocaine, and he expects that workload to increase.

"There's a lot more stuff that's going to be occurring in the near future,"
he said.