DPS staffing one of reasons for increased violence in Sikeston

SIKESTON — One reason attributed for the increase in gang violence in not just Sikeston, but the area, is the low staffing levels of law enforcement.

Currently Sikeston DPS is short 10 officers, which is down from their peak when they were short 17 officers. The detective division at DPS is short two detectives and a supervisor which also causes a problem.

“I think because of the short staffing we have had, and that other cities have had over months and years, you are starting to see the results of that,” said Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen. “That’s what I think and you can certainly see that here.”

While DPS isn’t lacking as many officers as they have been, McMillen said many times veteran officers have retired or left for different professions, and have been replaced by younger, more inexperienced officers.

Currently there are six DPS officers who are in or need the police academy training and even more that need fire training.

“We have the actual bodies, but we’ve got to get them trained,” McMillen. “I would rather have that than not have the person.”

New officers are also not as tuned into the community as a veteran officer. They don’t have relationships with community members or in some cases have the sense of community. McMillen said when an officer gets the sense of community, policing becomes more than just a job.

“I was probably here three to four years before I felt like this was my community,” McMillen said. “The longer you’re here, the more people know you and if you are new, people don’t know who you are or if you’re going to be fair or not fair. That takes years to develop those relationships.”

McMillen said it is the job of officers to help prevent and solve crimes.

“If we have new people that don’t have those relationships, we’re very poor in that aspect,” McMillen said. “It’s just an ongoing thing we have to continue to do.”

The lack of staff has kept them from implementing what in the past has been known as the “Flex Squad,” a group of three or four officers that McMillen said is basically the offense for DPS.

In cases where gang violence is increasing, the Flex Squad would be sent out to specifically look for gangs, drugs and guns.

“We’re still working toward the gang members,” McMillen said. “But if we had (the Flex Squad) we would be pointing them toward the gang members.”

The low staffing and gang violence combination is also contributing to complaints of other crimes not being investigated, like thefts.

“Quite simply this is a matter of prioritization,” McMillen said. “It’s an issue of serious physical injury and life safety over property. We just have to do that. We investigate the other crimes too, but it does cause delays, especially when you have this kind of volume going on.”

Sikeston DPS recently held a hiring process that attracted seven individuals, but McMillen said that realistically their success rate with that is about 15-18%.

The City of Sikeston is also doing a salary survey, and McMillen hopes that when finished, they will be able to attract more candidates, especially experienced officers.

“There is just not that many people out there that want to (become police officers),” McMillen said. “I’m not sure what the answer is, but we’re going in a direction that is not going to be good for the community.”