The month of March has brought all types of weather to our county, fortunately we avoided most of the injuries and destruction that some other places experienced.
Texas County deputies responded to assist law enforcement in Rolla on the night of March 14, after a tornado caused heavy damage. Another tragic story from that area resulted in a death from carbon monoxide poisoning. In that case, a person was using a generator for electricity after the storms had knocked out power. This unfortunate death is a good reminder to take a look at generator safety. A generator should never be operated indoors or in an enclosed space. A general rule of thumb is to operate the generator at least 20 feet away from your home. In addition, it is helpful to have a carbon monoxide detector active in your home. When speaking to local groups about emergency preparedness, I always mention having a plan for extended electrical outages. Part of the plan should definitely include a safety checklist for the use of a generator.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) recently presented information to local law enforcement agencies in Texas County about poor seat belt usage rates in the county, particularly by young people. The facts are that using a seat belt increases your chances of surviving a traffic crash. Yes, a person can be cited for a seat belt violation if they are stopped for another offense, but this is an issue about making the smart choice and using a seat belt, not about avoiding a fine.
I will share with the readers what I told my son when he got his driver’s license about something I call the trifecta of death. If you do one of these three things while operating a vehicle you are significantly increasing your chances of dying in a crash, and the more you combine at one time, your risk increases even more. The first thing is not wearing a seat belt, the second is driving at excessive speeds and the third is operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or any other substance.
During the third week of March, I attended the spring Missouri Sheriff’s Association training conference. There were many new faces in the room with several sheriffs retiring. The conference provided good training and the chance to discuss new legislation and common issues.
In March, deputies generated the following types of reports: domestic assault, 12; property damage, nine; stealing, seven; animal bites/complain, seven; traffic offense, six; trespass, three; burglary, three; warrant arrest, three; scam/fraud, three; sex offense, three; drug offense, three; assault, two; unlawful use of a weapon, two; civil matter, two; mental health, two; lost or stolen license plate, two; agency assist, two; search warrant, missing person, harassment, failure to register as a sex offender, death investigation, elder abuse and child abuse.