Coffey gives update on CPD Strategic Plan progress
<span>CHESTER -- After the conclusion of the Chester Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee meeting, Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey gave an update on his department's Strategic Plan.</span>
<span>Wednesday's update was to show the progress of the plan one year after its implementation.</span>
<span>In a slideshow presentation, Coffey said drug arrests within the immediate Chester area from May to October of 2014 resulted in 29 misdemeanor charges and 24 felonies.</span>
<span>From October 2014 to April 2015, the number was 15 misdemeanors and 11 felonies.</span>
<span>"Activity drops, in general, during the winter months," Coffey said.</span>
<span>In the past six months, the CPD has made 16 cannabis-related arrests and seven meth arrests, seizing 63.5 grams of cannabis and four grams of meth for a combined street value of $1,035.</span>
<span>Officers have also seized 22 various prescription pills and made three arrests of that nature. In regard to heroin, the CPD has seized four buttons ($80 local value) with one case working its way through the court system and a heroin-related death that is pending.</span>
<span>Cocaine activity has appeared in the past six months, with the CPD seizing 35 grams, worth an estimated $3,500 to $5,000, compared to no such seizures in the first six months. Officers also seized $878 in cash from October 2014 to present, with several thousand more pending in court.</span>
<span>Previously, Coffey said his department uses drug seizure money to fund the maintenance of its investigation equipment, which includes covert recording devices and vehicles.</span>
<span>"As far as that whole first 12-month period, I think we're in great shape," Coffey said in a follow-up interview by the Herald Tribune. "I think we've made significant progress in regard to reaching and achieving our goals.</span>
<span>"Of course, we have a long way to go."</span>
<span>During his presentation, Coffey updated the committee members on the progress toward several objectives defined by the Strategic Plan.</span>
<span>Under "Increase presence in neighborhoods and identify problem areas," Coffey said his department is still establishing consistency in patrol details and information sharing in-house.</span>
<span>"Still a challenge, but we're working on it," he said.</span>
<span>Finally, Coffey highlighted the ongoing "Active Shooter" training in schools, which has been a source of pride for the CPD.</span>
<span>On May 1, St. Mary's Catholic Grade School will get its turn. Upon completion, the 4E (Educate, Evade, Escape and Engage) training will have reached 210 teachers, staff and employees city-wide, which includes 120 employees at Memorial Hospital in Chester.</span>
<span>"We're going to focus on some of the applicability of the presentation to individual schools," Coffey said in the phone interview. "There are unique challenges to each school, whether that is layout, size or student capacities."</span>
<span>Coffey also mentioned his department's new drug education program - Challenging Ourselves and Promoting Safety (COPS), led by veteran CPD Officer Bobby Helmers.</span>
<span>The six-week program will begin on April 16.</span>
<span>"We will throw this out to the parochial schools next (school) year," Coffey said. "We are thinking of sticking with one grade and expanding the program."</span>