News

Chester City Council approves mobile forensics request

Posted July 21, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The Chester Police Department will be working toward getting another tool for its investigative arsenal.

The Chester City Council approved a request by the CPD to pursue a Susteen Community Outreach Mobile Forensics Grant, which allows law enforcement agencies the ability to acquire their own mobile forensics software at steeply discounted prices using matching funds.

In a presentation to the council, Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey said the software could be used to extract information from cell phones as part of a criminal investigation.

Coffey cited drug cases, sexual assaults, child pornography and burglary cases as examples of the types of cases in which the software could be used.

"It will be a vital piece of equipment we may use a lot," Coffey said.

Coffey said his department currently works with the Murphysboro Police Department to get the information, which involves travel to and from Murphysboro to obtain the results - a process that tends to draw cases out.

The grant would provide for 60 percent of the software purchase, with the city's portion being between $2,500 and $3,000 depending on the software capabilities that are chosen.

"This piece of equipment will be a significant asset to assist us in achieving our crime prevention goals and our interest in becoming more efficient," Coffey said.

Also during the meeting, Coffey presented a plaque to longtime part-time Officer Mark Beam. Beam has served in a part-time capacity for 29 years.

"He's been a great asset as far as a part-time officer is concerned," Coffey said in a follow-up phone interview with the Herald Tribune. "He handled a lot of our available shifts. He was very active in our public housing housing program."

"I actually started around law enforcement at a really early age," Beam said in a media interview during executive session. "My dad was a deputy sheriff for Randolph County and he started out as a jail administrator.

"We actually lived in the (Randolph County) jail from 1970 to 1975 when the new jail opened up. We often watch them build the new courthouse and jail from the front porch of the jail."

Beam said it feels different for him to leave after such a long time in law enforcement. Due to chronic health issues resulting from an infection of West Nile Virus several years ago, he had to turn in his equipment.

"I've been a pillar in the community for such a long time," he said. "Personal power; people don't realize that you have power as a police officer. When you leave, it seems like that all that goes away and it feels weird to lose that power."

Beam was asked what his favorite part of being in law enforcement was.

"I enjoy the employees," he said. "You see these people day in and day out every day. To talk to everybody in law enforcement all the time and now you just don't see them.

"That's what I'll miss the most is being around all the other people in law enforcement."

The council also approved hiring Rick Grah as a part-time telecommunicator for the CPD. Grah is retired from Chester Mental Health and an assistant coordinator of the Randolph County EMA.

"We do need staff and we need him right away," Coffey told the council. "I think he will do an excellent job."

During the correspondence portion of the meeting, Chester Mayor Tom Page announced that bids for the new turn lane at the intersection of Opdyke and State streets will be read at 11 a.m. on Aug. 12.

The bids are scheduled to be discussed during the council's Aug. 17 meeting.

Roundup

The council passed the annual Appropriation Ordinance, which was said to involve $20,220,472.

The council approved a resolution to close State Street for the Popeye Picnic parade.

The council approved an agreement with Southwestern Illinois Bus Company to bus interested people to the Nina and Pinta boat tour in Grafton, which is north of St. Louis. The two boats, which are replicas of those explorer Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, will be docked in Grafton from Aug. 7 to 16.

Chester Mayor Tom Page said the ships originally requested to dock at Chester, but high water levels on the Mississippi River prevented that from happening. An amount of $500 will be taken from the city's recreation fund to pay for the bus trip.

The council approved an agreement with the Southern Illinois Sun Devils to operate the concession stand at the Cohen Complex for a tournament to be held Aug. 29 and 30. The city's agreement with Chester Sports Inc. will expire on July 31.

Finally, the council entered into executive session to discuss hiring a seasonal employee for Evergreen Cemetery. The council later approved employing Aaron Gibbs from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 at $9.25 an hour.

Article Categories
News