Chester Police Chief's monthly report for October

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[- Chief Coffey gave his monthly report at the October 4, 2010 City Council Meeting.

Chief Coffey reported on a recently awarded grant for Bulletproof Vests. The grant will provide funding for 50% of the overall purchase. This purchase is planned for spring of 2011.

Chief Coffey reported on a proposed Drug Investigations Team within the Chester Police Department. The team will be comprise of current Chester Police Officers that will focus on drug investigations within the City of Chester and surrounding area.

Chief Coffey reported that the Chester Police Department recently held their annual firearms qualification at the Menard Firing Range. This year's qualification was unique because the Department's own staff conducted the training. The Chester Police Department currently has three state-certified firearms instructors on staff. Those three officers now serve as instructors for the Chester Police Department. These officers are Deputy Chief Bobby Helmers, Sgt. Rinehart, and Officer Joe Swallers.

Chief Coffey also reported on some current investigations and some dispositions. Those cases include information on a recent drug arrest, dispositions on two separate city ordinance violations, some recent reports related to telephone harassment, an investigation into several recent vandalisms and minor thefts, and a recent arrest related to threats made to a local official.

Chief Coffey reported on some recent training. Chief Coffey attended a Senior Management Seminar, held in Macomb, Illinois. The course was sponsored by the Illinois Training and Standards Board Executive Institute.

On October 5th, Deputy Chief Helmers and Chief Coffey attended a Collective Bargaining seminar held in Cahokia, Illinois.

On October 25th and 26th, Chief Coffey will be in Collinsville, Illinois attending the Crime Free Multi-Housing Certification Program. This is a program designed to help law enforcement agencies and rental property owners/managers significantly reduce the level of crime and nuisance calls from housing projects.

Chief Coffey also reported that members of his Department assisted the local Food Pantry with traffic control for a recent event they held at Grace Church.

Chief Coffey informed the Council that plans are being made to conduct active-shooter / tactical training at the local schools again this year.