By Crystal Thompson
The Community Crime Intervention Program Advisory Council met Thursday evening in the City Council chambers at City Hall.
The meeting was headed up by Chief of Police Kevin Olson, who opened discussion with the allocation of the year 2000 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG).
The LLEBG funds are provided by the Department of Justice, and are based on an area's crime statistics. Local government is required to establish a trust fund to deposit all Federal payments received under the LLEBG Program. The 2000 LLEBG funds totaled $15,289.
In past years, the LLEBG monies were used for computer and communications upgrades for the Police Department. Chief Olson suggested that the 2000 funds once again be used for technology improvements, including the replacement of the Police Department officers' handheld radios, which are over ten years old.
"For all the officers, (the radios) are their life lines," Olson said during the meeting.
A motion was made and approved to recommend to the City Council that the 2000 LLEBG funds be allocated to the funding of technology upgrades, with emphasis on the Havre Police Department handheld radios.
Also discussed at the meeting was the possibility of the Police Department creating a web page. Chief Olson said that it has been considered, but that as of now, there is no one with the time to create and continually update the web page in order to make it useful. The web page remains on the PD's "wish list", Olson said.
Olson announced to the board that a video uplink between the Police Department and the Sheriff's Office is in the process of being constructed. The uplink was purchased with funds from the 1999 LLEBG.
Further discussion was made by Chief Olson concerning the tremendous problem with check fraud and forgery in the area. Olson stated that he will be addressing this problem in a letter to the Chamber of Commerce. In it, he will notify local businesses that the Police Department will offer training sessions on crime prevention and the warning signs of fraud and forgery.
Also present at last night's meeting were Bob Peake, Keith Maristuen, Joyce Perszyk, Roxanne Ross, Rick Sedahl, Dan Boucher, Norm Gorder, Darla Johnstone, and Margret Standing Bear.
