Below, you will find the summaries of the most current monthly editions of The Belleville Beat. We offer them to you in both the Word and Adobe Acrobat file formats. If you do not have Acrobat installed, please visit the Adobe website and download Acrobat Reader for free.

Updating  of The Belleville Beat is in progress.  Until that is completed we have added the most current version of our stats.

December 2006

November 2006

October 2006

September 2006

August 2006

July 2006

June 2006

May 2006

April 2006

March 2006

February 2006

January 2006
Welcome to The Belleville Beat January 2006 issue. This issue was originally sent September 1999, from an article in the September Realtor Magazine.  With more housing coming available in the city, it is again being sent as a reminder to homeowners.

December 2005
 This month,  December  2005 The Belleville Beat  provides driving tips when your equipment fails.  These tips are a companion piece to last month's issue, Driver Distractions.  More safe driving tips are available at www.cyberdriveillinois.com..

November 2005
For November 2005 The Belleville Beat  welcomes Secretary of  State Jesse White.

October 2005
Welcome toe October 2005 and its issue of The Belleville Beat.   This issue is brought to you by the State of Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission www.idhhc.state.il.us..

September 2005
Welcome again to The Belleville Beat.  With more and more residences being built in the city, this month, September 2005, we will give you guidelines on the City of Belleville's housing code.  Anyone that purchases a single or multi-family residence in the city limits must have a housing inspection prior to anyone moving into the apartment or house.  This is the same for private residences and for rental property.  If the property is rental and there are already tenants, there must still be an inspection of the rental units.  You must schedule an inspection by calling 233-6817.  A housing inspector will come to the property and will give a visual inspection. 

August 2005
School's starting.  The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) lists guidelines for children who are home alone.  This issue will review those guidelines.

July 2005
Methamphetamine

June 2005
The City of Belleville has many new neighborhood watches.  This month, June 2005, The Belleville Beat, again provides an overview of Community Oriented Policing (COP).

May 2005
This month, May 2005, The Belleville Beat offers information on Internet safety for children.  This information is provided by Internet Keep Safe Coalition at iKeepSafe.org.  The Internet Keep Safe Coalition group teaches basic rules of Internet safety to children and parents, reaching them online and in school.  Governors and/or first spouses formed this coalition in partnership with a growing list of crime prevention organizations, law enforcement agencies, foundations and corporate sponsors.

April 2005
For April 2005, The Belleville Beat is devoted to crimes against children and the role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

March 2005
More than 11,000 Illinois residents said they were victims of identity theft in 2004, according to a federal report released last month.  This month’s issue of The Belleville Beat, March 2005, provides information from the Federal Trade Commission on ways to protect yourself.

February 2005
he Belleville Beat, February 2005 discusses burglaries and ways to protect yourself.

January 2005
The Belleville Beat, January 2005, is focused on the Illinois State Police (ISP)

December 2004
How Afraid Are You of Being Attacked or Robbed? 
The results are very disturbing. Many Americans said they lived in fear of becoming a violent crime victim.  Society appears to be headed down the road of self-destruction.  Crime seems to be everywhere.  There are ways we can stand up and fight back.  By taking a few simple steps, it is possible to protect yourself, your children, and your property from becoming another crime statistic.

November 2004
The November 2004 issue of The Belleville Beat provides information to keep you, your family, and your home safe from the dangers of falling.

October 2004
The Belleville Beat, October 2004, has train crossing safety tips published by Operation Lifesaver.  Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing railroad crossing mishaps.

September 2004
School's in session. The Belleville Beat for September 2004 lists safety rules for school buses. The National Safety Council provides this information.

August 2004
This issue of The Belleville Beat contains ordinance information about playing ball, open burning and curfew. The City of Belleville is aggressively pursuing violators of these ordinances.

July 2004
Adults and children love to ride bikes. The July 2004 issue of The Belleville Beat has bicycling facts. The League of American Bicyclists provides this information.

June 2004
Summertime and the living is easy. This issue, June 2004, of The Belleville Beat has safety tips for picnics and cookouts. National Food Processors Association (NFPA) brings these tips to you.

May 2004
Hiking and camping provide exercise and interest for people of any age. Just getting out and walking around is a wonderful way to see nature. Since unexpected things happen, however, the best way to help guarantee a good time for all is to plan ahead carefully and follow commonsense safety precautions. The American Red Cross and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide the information in this issue of The Belleville Beat, May 2004

April 2004
Warm weather is here, and children will be outside playing. This April 2004 issue of The Belleville Beat has home playground safety tips. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the source of these tips.

March 2004
This issue of The Belleville Beat, March 2004, contains ordinance information about inoperable and derelict vehicles, and vehicles parked on private property. The City of Belleville is aggressively pursuing violators of these ordinances.

Law Enforcement Procedures 

Purpose:

     To establish proper and consistent procedures to be followed in the event of a child kidnapping with the intent to provide the greatest chance for the safe return of the abducted child and the quick apprehension of the suspect.  The St. Louis Area Regional Abduction Alert has the potential to save a child’s life. 

Background Information:

     The initial 4 hours after a child has been abducted are the most critical.  The local broadcast media has the ability to provide timely information to the greater St. Louis metropolitan area concerning a child kidnapping.  Participating radio and television stations have agreed to interrupt their regular programming and broadcast descriptions of the child, alleged suspect, and the alleged suspect’s vehicle.  This quick and repeated Emergency Alert System coverage on multiple media outlets will not only raise public awareness but will encourage the suspect to immediately release the child for fear of being caught.   

Law Enforcement Procedures:

·        A law enforcement supervisor is responsible for making the decision to activate the S.A.R.A.A.  This decision will be made after reviewing the facts and circumstances of the incident.  The supervisor will verify that the incident meets the S.A.R.A.A. notification criteria: 

1.      The child is 16 years of age or younger and the law enforcement agency believes the child has been kidnapped as defined in 720 ILCS 5/10-1(a) (1-3), 720 ILCS 5/10-2 (a)(1-5) and 720 ILCS 5/10-5(b)(10) and Missouri Statute 565.110.

2.      The law enforcement agency believes the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

3.      A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the kidnapping or eliminated alternative explanations.

4.      Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child, alleged suspect, or the alleged suspect’s vehicle.  

• If the 4 criteria listed above are not met, the law enforcement supervisor should not request a S.A.R.A.A.  There may also be other confidential circumstances involving a child kidnapping in which the law enforcement agency decides not to request a S.A.R.A.A.

• When all 4 criteria are met, the supervisor can complete the S.A.R.A.A. Notification Fax Form and fax it to KMOX radio.

•  KMOX’s news editor will review the fax and confirm that all four S.A.R.A.A. notification criteria have been met and verify that the fax contains all the information needed to issue a S.A.R.A.A. and activate EAS.  The news editor will use the facilities of KMOX to place the S.A.R.A.A. into proper EAS format.  The news editor may change the wording of the law enforcement agency’s message (but not the facts) to ensure the message is clear, concise, and complete.

• A text copy of the S.A.R.A.A. broadcast by KMOX will be faxed to the issuing law enforcement agency.

• The reporting law enforcement supervisor will ensure that his/her agency is properly staffed to handle a large volume of incoming telephone calls that may result from a S.A.R.A.A.  Additional staffing may also be needed to follow up on the leads received.  The telephone number given to the public in the S.A.R.A.A. must be a telephone number (other than 911) capable of handling multiple incoming lines.

• The law enforcement supervisor will inform his/her own agency’s personnel of the S.A.R.A.A. case and message.  This notification should include dispatchers, patrol officers, immediate supervisors, detectives, command staff, media relations, etc.

• Officers will try to obtain a recent photograph of the missing child.  This photograph will be taken with the intent of transmitting it to all television and print media outlets in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

•  As updated information about the child or alleged suspect is available, the law enforcement supervisor will send timely updates to KMOX using the same procedures outlined above.

• Once the child is found or the case is closed, the supervisor will cancel the S.A.R.A.A. by calling KMOX then faxing another S.A.R.A.A. Cancellation Fax Form providing the recovery or closure information.  

Media Procedures 

Background Information:

     KMOX-AM 1120 is designated the primary Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for the St. Louis Metropolitan area.  

     The S.A.R.A.A. plan adopted in this area allows participating law enforcement agencies to request activation of the Emergency Alert System for a S.A.R.A.A. notification as a “Civil Emergency Message” (CEM).  This is the same category used by city and county offices of emergency management for flood or hurricane evacuations, hazardous material releases, etc. that require public protective measures. 

     Unlike routine weather watches and warnings, other radio/TV stations will not have quick, easy access to the text of the S.A.R.A.A., so KMOX will relay the S.A.R.A.A message to other participating media outlets using the broadcast fax system.  

KMOX Procedures:  

• A law enforcement supervisor will call the news editor on duty at KMOX-AM 1120 (the primary Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for the St. Louis Metropolitan area to notify them that a S.A.R.A.A. Notification is being faxed. 

•  KMOX’s news editor will review the fax to make sure all four S.A.R.A.A. Criteria have been met and verify that the fax contains all the information needed to issue a S.A.R.A.A. Notification and activate EAS.     

• The news editor will call back the law enforcement supervisor to acknowledge receipt of the fax, ask any additional questions, and to obtain the supervisor’s approval of the final wording of the S.A.R.A.A. message to be broadcast on KMOX and distributed by EAS broadcast fax. 

• KMOX will then broadcast fax the S.A.R.A.A. to all participating radio/television stations and the Bi-State Development Agency. 

• KMOX will repeat the S.A.R.A.A. message at least twice an hour for the next four hours.  Only the initial S.A.R.A.A. message requires EAS activation.  

•  As updated information about the case is available (such as a better description of the child or suspect, a new search location or an actual sighting), the law enforcement supervisor should call the KMOX news editor, then fax a S.A.R.A.A. Fax Form marked “Update” providing the updated information.   

• The KMOX news editor will follow the same procedures outlined above to write a S.A.R.A.A. Update, send it to the participating agencies, and broadcast the update on KMOX.  If any S.A.R.A.A. Update(s) are received during the initial four hour time period, no further EAS activation is required.  KMOX will repeat any S.A.R.A.A. Update message at least twice an hour for the next two hours after reception of same. 

• Once the child is found or the case is closed, the law enforcement supervisor must cancel the S.A.R.A.A. notification by calling KMOX then faxing a S.A.R.A.A. Fax Form marked “Cancellation” providing recovery or closure information. 

• The KMOX news editor will follow the same procedures outlined above to write a S.A.R.A.A. Cancellation, send it to all S.A.R.A.A. participating stations, and broadcast the cancellation on KMOX using EAS.
  

Questions and Answers 

Q: What is the St. Louis Area Regional Abduction Alert?

A: S.A.R.A.A., (pronounced “Sarah”), is a cooperative effort between the broadcast media and local law enforcement in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area.  S.A.R.A.A. calls for law enforcement agencies to provide radio/television stations with an alert upon the immediate confirmation of a child kidnapping.  All participating stations will break programming to broadcast the alert and any subsequent information provided by the police. 

Q: How will the broadcast media obtain the information about a child kidnapping? 

A: Each participating law enforcement agency in the fifteen counties that are part of the St. Louis EAS Operating area will have a contact name and confidential fax number of the area’s primary EAS station. The contact from the station will confirm the receipt and accuracy of the fax transmission and will alert the other radio/television stations participating in this service to the community through a subsequent fax transmission. 

Q: When was the S.A.R.A.A. implemented? 

A: January 9, 2001. 

Q: Is there a need for the S.A.R.A.A. with the implementation of the statewide Illinois and Missouri Amber Alerts? 

A: Yes, these programs will complement each other and as a result the S.A.R.A.A. will continue to serve the St. Louis Metropolitan area for which it was specifically designed. 

Q: Why is this program necessary? 

A: The initial 4 hours after a child has been abducted are the most critical.  Local broadcast media have the ability to provide timely information to the entire Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area and the S.A.R.A.A. message will encourage the public to look-on-the-lookout for the kidnapped child, and call the police immediately if they have any information to assist in the child’s safe recovery.  These messages will also encourage the alleged kidnapper to release the child immediately for fear of being caught. 

Q: If I see a kidnapped child, should I take action and try to apprehend the alleged suspect? 

A: Citizens are not expected to take “police action” and they should not attempt to apprehend or arrest anyone.  Notify the police immediately instead. 

Q: What is the policy of the radio/television stations should a citizen call to report the sighting of a kidnapped child or alleged suspect? 

A: Each radio/television station will immediately relay these tips to the issuing law enforcement agency. 

Q: Once the kidnapped child has been located, how will the S.A.R.A.A. be cancelled? 

A: The issuing police agency will send a notice of cancellation to the area’s primary EAS station.  This will then be broadcast to all participating stations who will in turn notify the public. 

Q: Can this program truly be successful and actually save a life? 

A. Since January 2001, the St. Louis Area Regional Abduction Alert has been activated 16 times and 18 children have been safely recovered. 

Committee Members 

CO-CHAIRS:

Name  /  Organization  /  Work Number  /  Fax Number  /  Email

Chief Terry Milam / St. John, MO P.D / (314)427-8706 / (314)427-6818 /  Terry@cityofstjohn.org 

Sgt. Jim Dahm / Belleville, IL P.D / (618)234-1212 / (618)234-7133 / Sgtdahm@bellevillepolice.org 

John Butler-News Dir / KMOX Radio / (314)444-3234 / N/A /  Jmbutler@cbs.com 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Chief Jim Biederman / Ballwin, MO P.D. / (636) 227-9636 / (636)207-2340 / Jbiederman@Ballwin.mo.us 

Chief Matt Lauer / Bel Nor P.D / (314)381-2263 / (314)381-2263 / Colmatt131@aol.com