CPD, MUPD prepare for Halloween weekend

Officers scheduled to be on duty are not allowed to take the day off.

By Alicia Stice

Published Oct. 30, 2009

Local law enforcement agencies are preparing for Halloween, which falls on a Saturday this year.

MU Police Department Capt. Brian Weimer said officers are always looking for illegal and dangerous behavior, and Halloween is no exception.

"We don't wait for holidays to do this," Weimer said.

The usual number of MUPD officers will be on patrol on Halloween. MUPD officers are aware of the potential increase in crimes over the Halloween weekend, Weimer said.

Weimer also said MUPD patrol officers, security guards and campus safety officers will work to stop any dangerous behavior over the weekend.

Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden said she expects the number of complaints CPD receives this Halloween to be higher than usual because the holiday falls on a weekend.

A Halloween during the workweek generally doesn't create as many calls for CPD service, and Haden said her busiest night as an officer was a Halloween on a Saturday night.

CPD will not bring in additional staff for the day, but officers regularly scheduled to be on duty are not allowed to take the day off. That gives CPD maximum staffing for Halloween.

Disturbing the peace, vandalism and driving under the influence are offenses likely to spike Saturday.

Haden said safety of trick-or-treaters is more of a concern on weekend Halloweens and is concerned for the combination of potentially intoxicated drivers and trick-or-treating children.

"Sometimes that (late trick-or-treaters) can mesh up with people you have out on roadways driving under the influence," Haden said.

CPD conducted an additional traffic detail on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63 Thursday, a CPD news release stated. The traffic detail was to make drivers aware of the "move over" statutes across the country.

Haden said the traffic details are very timely. She said this will get people thinking about police being out on Halloween night and deter people from driving while intoxicated.

Drivers in Missouri are required to yield to emergency vehicles and approach stopped emergency vehicles with caution. This helps improve safety for U.S. law enforcement officers, the news release stated.

The traffic detail was not technically a part of safety efforts for Halloween, but they will help CPD have a more visible presence before the holiday, Haden said.

Other crimes are also likely to increase around Halloween, Haden said. Vandalism is a very common complaint. CPD gets a high number of calls about pumpkins being stolen or smashed.

"Any time of the year people have decorations out, especially pumpkins, it creates an opportunity for property damage," Haden said.

CPD released a brochure titled, "Halloween Safety," which offers parents tips for keeping children safe on the holiday. Haden said CPD officers would distribute the brochure at a community event held at the Broadway Christian Church.

The brochure suggests parents have older children supervise younger children while they trick-or-treat.

Parents are also advised to put reflective tape on costumes and have their children carry flashlights to make trick-or-treaters more visible to passing cars. Face paint is considered safer than masks, which could obstruct a child's vision.