West Newsmagazine 2-7-18

20 I SCHOOLS I
February 7, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
For more information call:
Public Hearing
February 21, 2018
A public hearing is scheduled before the Board of Adjustments of the City of Ballwin
on February 21st, 2017 at the Donald “Red” Loehr Police and Court Center, 300
Park Dr. Ballwin, MO 63011, at 7:00 P.M.
Petition number 1BA18, an appeal from Steve Huffamn for a variance to front yard
setback requirement in the R-1, Single Family for the construction of a new attached
bedroom and garage that extends beyond the front and side building line along East
Skyline Drive at the property known as 265 East Skyline Drive.
The Ballwin Zoning Hot Line at (636) 207-2326 or the Ballwin Government Center at (636)
227-9000 (voice), (636) 527-9200 (TDD), 1-800-735-2966 RELAY MISSOURI.
Residents of Ballwin are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in the programs and
services of the City of Ballwin regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability,
familial status, national origin or political affiliation. If one requires an accommodation,
please call the above numbers no later than 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding
the hearing. Offices are open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Andy Hixson, Director of Development and Assistant City Administrator
14811 Manchester Rd. Ballwin, MO 63011 (PHONE 636-227-9000)
For more information, call (636) 227-9000 (VOICE),
1-800-735-2966 (RELAY MISSOURI VOICE) • 1-800-735-2966 (RELAY MISSOURI TDD)
STEM, from page 16
lowing graduation.
Peebles’ goal was to work where she
would have an impact on the community
and “police work just seemed to fit,” she
said.
At the STEM event, both Rock and Peebles
wore their uniforms and had with them
their regular tools of the trade, including
handcuffs, a taser, a semi-automatic pistol
and bullet-proof vest. As a detective, Ovca
was dressed in street clothes.
Learning hands-on
A person wouldn’t need to be a scientist,
technology expert, engineer or mathematician
to be a police officer but the presentation
and demonstrations by the three
women left no doubt that having a good
grasp of STEM disciplines is important in
today’s law enforcement world.
The lidar, originally an acronym for
“light detection and ranging” but now an
accepted word, is the high-tech replacement
for yesterday’s radar speed limit
enforcement equipment. Understanding
how the hand-held device works calls for
familiarity with lasers and mathematics.
Ovca explained the electrical and physiological
aspects of the taser, designed to
temporarily incapacitate a person rather
than using the potentially deadly force of
a firearm. After making sure everyone was
behind her, Rock fired the taser at a boardmounted
human silhouette.
Use of an alternate light source device
for illuminating materials not easily spotted
in regular lighting situations also was
explained as one of the tools in crime scene
work.
Collection of fingerprints from a variety
of surfaces was demonstrated before the 26
participants donned latex gloves to try their
hands at the skill. After the hands-on practice,
several of the attendees became illustrations
of how easily the fine, black powder
used for finding prints on the white tabletop
could wind up on faces, necks or arms.
Ballwin Police Officer Tabitha Peebles shows a group of
STEM event participants how the department’s lidar speed
measuring device operates.
Participants also learned about DNA
evidence and some of the ways it can be
gathered for analysis; how and why gunshot
residue is collected; and the technique
used for lifting a boot, shoe or tire print at
a crime scene. In addition, Ovca told how a
crowbar or other device used for a break-in
can be identified by capturing the distinctive
markings the tool leaves behind.
After police dispatcher Abbacchi told
about the department’s communications
center, which receives 911 emergency
calls and dispatches officers for both Ballwin
and Manchester, the group visited the
operation. A brief stop at the lock-up where
those arrested can be held for a short period
was on the agenda as well.
Attending the event because his daughter
was one of the participants, Scott sat quietly
in the back of the room during most
of the two-hour session. Clearly comfortable
with being on the sidelines while
the three women conducted the event, he
participated only to drive the car used for
demonstrating the lidar’s operation.
Moving the participants outdoors, Rock
and Peebles described the technology that
surrounds them in their patrol cars, focusing
on the computer and communications
gear that can send and retrieve information
rapidly. The cargo area of two departmental
SUVs used both for patrol duties and as
crime scene vehicles is filled with equipment
important for finding evidence.
Both Ovca and Scott told West Newsmagazine
that the STEM event was the
first of what is expected to be an ongoing
series that will be expanded to include sessions
for boys as well as girls and for high
school as well as middle school students.
Although many, but not all, of the first
event’s participants came from Rockwood’s
Selvidge Middle, Parkway School
officials also have indicated their interest
in having that district’s students involved.
Emma Naes, an eighth-grader at Selvidge,
said she enjoyed the session, identifying
the lidar and taser demonstrations as
especially interesting.
Autumn Brinkley, a homeschooled
sixth-grade student
from House Springs, said she
found the event interesting
and has thought about working
in law enforcement.
Selvidge eighth-grader Jennifer
Liu said she, too, has an
interest in law enforcement
and was impressed by the
responsibilities police officers
have. Noting she was
particularly interested in the
communications capabilities
available to officers, she
added with a smile, “And
the cupcakes [available as a
break-time snack] were delicious,
too.”