Collins outlines plans for Bear Creek Police

BEAR CREEK      - The concept of community policing is being put into action  for the Town of Bear Creek by newly installed chief Eddie Collins, who met with the mayor and council at their April 5, town council meeting to discuss new ideas and a fresh approach to law enforcement.
Collins was sworn into office by Bear Creek City Attorney Scott Hunt at the council’s special-called meeting April 5, with Collins’ wife, Misty, holding the Bible on which Collins placed his left hand, while raising his right hand to take the oath of office.
Collins stressed to council members in a roundtable discussion that the town will move toward a community-oriented police environment.
“I like to cater toward the kids in town. They are your future adults,” Collins emphasized. The goal, he added, was to continue law enforcement, but with a non-threatening presence.
“Everybody is scared of the police, and we’re just people. We’re people with a job to do. We have feelings. We have families,” Collins said. “My daughter goes to school here.
“I just want to do a little more proactive patrolling,” Collins said.
Earlier that day, Collins monitored traffic to and from Phillips Schools, observing traffic patterns and motorist behavior during congested times.
“People go through the caution lights and they  are traveling a little bit fast in the school zone during school time,” noted Collins.
“It’s not our people,” he stated. “It’s people passing through that aren’t paying attention to the signs.
“The speed limit is 25 (miles per hour). I don’t think you can get any lower than that,” the chief said. “We are going to start enforcing it a little more in the school area.
“I am not saying it wasn’t being done. I am saying that is what I am going to do,” Collins explained.
The Bear Creek Police Department is currently at least one officer short of where they need to be, according to Collins.  Currently, the police department only has one full time (Collins) and one part-time officer, Collins stated.
“We need a minimum of one more (officer) full-time, all the time,” he said. “I want 24-hour coverage. What I mean is an officer on duty in a seat 24-hours-a day.”
The plan is to eventually have three working full-time and himself, and one working part-time in the department, Collins explained.
“It doesn’t matter how big or how small a police department you are,” said Collins. “What matters is how well your people are trained, how well they know how to use their equipment and how well they are trained to help other people help us.”
Collins also stressed the department would be interactive in the schools, with a presence, as well as programs.
“It’s my duty for them to know what’s right and what’s wrong,” said Collins.
Collins asked council members to sit down with him and discuss their areas of concern or things they would like to see addressed in the town in order to make the best police department possible.
“They know the town better than I do,” he said.