The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 1

FAITH INSIDE LOCAL FIGHTER JERI SITZES MAKES SWITCH TO MM A ID Springfield ftr t.a- I 0ZARKSM0BILE.COM Springfield, Missouri Saturday, april 4, 2009 75c 2W8 ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO A gunman shot the pastor to death and injured several others March 8 at the First Baptist Church in Maryville, III. Churches consider security Some area churches are taking security measures to protect their congregations in light of recent church shootings. 1C ONLINE NOW NEWS-LEADER fILE PHOTO 0 ji(DV '1 I I I ..5,4, I lA I I 1 1 iwe i it i VICKY WHEELER Leonard Wheeler is pictured at the helm in the Outdoors Recreation gallery. Enter outdoors photo contest If you enjoy shooting outdoors photos, post your pics in for a chance to win an ATV. ROBBERY, CAR THEFT: STATUTORY SODOMY: CHILD MOLESTATION: BURGLARY: Matthew Colt Plotke charged I.

Ortega charged in Kenneth B. Crawford Clifton Junkins has felony warrants allegedly confessed but not arrested 2007, never arrested Add up to one photo per day through April 28 in wuldgors XlftV Lack of resources to enforce warrants undermines justice system Greene County warrants: Serious offenses Using data provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Office, the News-Leader 5)0 laentmea outstanding warrants tor serious teiony ana misaemeanor offenses. Here's how those warrants break down. Data: To view a list of Municipal Court warrants visit News-Leadeccom Data: To view a list of Greene County warrants X0M visit News-Leadeccom Sex mtf offenses 4 (68) wvr 'Vmmv Other (78) I Offenses include: assault, arson, child abuse, animal abuse, sex offenses (attempted rape, child molestation, deviate sex assault, indecent exposure, prostitution, child pornography, sex abuse, sexual misconduct, statutory rape, sexual assault) burglary, elder abuse, false imprisonment, stealing, forgery, kidnapping, robbery, stalking, theft, drug (paraphernalia, drug trafficking). NEWS LEADER SOURCE: GREENE COUNTY SHLRIFF OFFICE fishing, hunting, nature or recreation galleries to enter the free random drawing.

Become a member at to start adding your photos today. Go to MyOzarks Outdoors.com to find galleries and contest rules. Two more News-Leader contests are also happening this week: Join the conversation at Ozarks.MomsLikeMe.com to participate in the Great Grocery Giveaway, where $2,100 in gift cards will be awarded. Vote for your favorite pet at Local homes showcased online Take a look Inside great local homes by checking our our "Home of the Week" galleries. They're organized by Tilli Sjgn styles.

Check them out now at OzarksSpaces.com YOUR COMMUNITY Police say Colt S. Plotke molested a 14-year-old boy before knocking him unconscious last year. He's wanted for the crime, yet walks free. Police say Kenneth B. Crawford robbed a grocery store and stole a car in May 2007.

He's faced no consequences for the alleged felonies. The list goes on. Greene County has more than 19,000 active warrants, more than 3,000 for felonies. But local law enforcement say they have too few resources to actively pursue most wanted suspects, leaving their capture up to chance. And leaving them free to, in some cases, commit other offenses.

The hole in enforcement can have dire consequences. In two of eight homicides that occurred in the city last year, the suspects were long wanted on less severe crimes. "What it actually does is undermines the foundation of government," said Springfield City Councilwoman Cindy Rushef-sky, a former prosecutor. "There Clearing warrants Know the whereabouts of a wanted individual? Submit tips anonymously by calling Greater Springfield Area Crime Stoppers at 869-TIPS or visit www.tipsubmit.com. just avoid contact with the cops you don't face justice." Ijames is a member of the Safety and Justice Roundtable, a citizen commission tasked with fjr- ii studying the area's criminal justice sys-, tem.

if The croun has met are people out there that have to be brought into the system." Greene County's list of outstanding warrants includes 800 assault charges and almost 70 sex offenses. Nearly 500 are for burglaries, thefts and stealing. There are warrants for kidnapping, arson, identity theft. Yet the victims of these alleged crimes are left waiting indefinitely for justice. "It just makes a mockery of the system," said Steve Ijames, a former Springfield police major.

"Many of these cases, if you can I periodically since late 2007 and is in the process of forming final recommendations for how to im Ijames pected to address is warrant enforcement. "You've got some serious crimes, then you've got a huge amount of warrants for just petty See Warrants, Page 4A prove justice in Springfield and Greene County. Among the issues they're ex- Story by DIRK VANDERHART NEWS-LEADER Photos courtesy of Greene County Sheriff's Office MSU to keep tuition level MSU's Board of Governors voted Friday to keep tuition unchanged for next year, but growing enrollment may boost the university's budget a bit. 8A Christian County ballot issues A 911 sales tax issue and the question of home rule for Nixa are big issues for Christian County in Tuesday's election. 6A Tips still trickle in in 1991 abduction yp, 14 "''A.

-r this to be a cold case at this point," said Clinton Police Sgt. Paul Abbott. "We've been working on this case diligently for the last 18 years. On occasion we have By Amos Bridges It's been 18 years since Angela Hammond was abducted from a grocery store parking lot in Clinton. 2A 60 3B 70 7D ID Index Automotive Business Classified Comics Crossword Dear Abby Deaths Employment Faith Garage Sales Heloise Horoscope Lottery Merchandise NationWorld Real Estate For Sale Rentals Sports Stocks Sudoku Television Voices Weather IF 4B 6D 3C 2C 2C 5A 6D 1C 6D 2C 2C 4B 2C 7A IB 2B Stimulus revives hope for hiring on police force By Amos Bridges Springfield police hope federal stimulus money will help fill some of the 32 police officer positions left vacant due to a continued hiring freeze.

The department is asking City Council for permission to apply for a grant of about $4.5 million enough to pay the salaries and benefits of 25 new officers for three years from the U.S. Department of Justice. The council is scheduled to vote Monday on an emergency ordinance authorizing the application, which must be submitted by April 14. The Community Oriented Policing Services grant program, administered by the Justice Department, was created in 1994 with the goal of funding at least 100,000 additional police officers nationwide. Several area agencies, including Springfield, have received grants in the past, but fund NEWS-LEADER EILE PHOTO Any officers hired as part of the COPS Hiring Recovery Program will likely do community-oriented police work as well as other assignments.

fewer and fewer leads, but here recently it seems like there's been renewed interest by the public We feel like this is an open, active investigation right now." Abbott and other investigators hope renewed public attention, as well as advances in DNA test The 20-year-old bank worker, recently engaged, was talking to her fiance on a pay phone April 4, 1991. It was late, so when a suspicious-looking man in a green truck pulled into the lot and approached another booth, Hammond started relaying de Weather Hammond ggo Windy today, with Clinton "All that got revived with all the federal stimulus," said Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe. As part of this year's stimulus package, the Justice Department is Sprinqlield periods oi sun 410 and clouds and a thunderstorm tonight. 2B Precipitation: 20 A GANNETT NEWSPAPER VOL. 119, NO.

94 2009, NEWS-LEADER is Rowe ing and other forensic techniques, will help identify a suspect and shed light on Hammond's fate. "Once we started talking about it, everyone else started talking about it, too," Abbott said. "Wre would get a trickle of a lead here, a trick-See Hammond, Page 3A tails over the phone. Moments later, the conversation ended with a scream. Despite several weeks of intense searching, Hammond was never seen again.

After almost two decades, Clinton police haven't given up. "We really don't consider parceling out about $1 billion as part of its COPS Hiring Recovery Program. "It will be on a competitive application process and we may get one, we may get five we may get 25," Rowe said. field nysprm ing largely dried up during the Bush administration. See Police, i wi Mm k- a kiM ra or i 1 1 1 1 Ml i'i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I HI a iomfiivimmimijiGiifli) Terminal EEHw.

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