Mission police chief gets scary for Halloween
Karen Peterson photo
Mission Police Chief Jeffrey Ferguson exchanges his uniform for a monster costume in an effort to scare those walking through the haunted house.
Karen Peterson photo
Volunteers at the Mission Haunted House helped Ferguson scare the town to raise money for the Neighborhood Watch and Reserve Officer programs, and “give kids something to do.”
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ST. IGNATIUS – Mission Police Chief Jeffrey Ferguson turned into a monster with razor sharp teeth and a serious skin condition last week.
“I want people to know that I’m approachable,” he said as part of the reason for putting on the mask.
Approachable might not be the word kids thought of as they screamed through the Mission Haunted House and Ferguson jumped out of dark corners. School Resource Officer Clay Shoemaker, Mission Fire Department Chief Martin Frazzini and other volunteers helped Ferguson with the task of scaring those walking among the bodiless heads, thick mist and jumping spiders.
“It’s all in good fun,” Ferguson said. “This allows us to interact with people so they know we are approachable. We’ve got a less scary version for the younger kids. I don’t want to upset anyone.”
In his uniform, he explained that he wanted to do things to “bring the community together and give kids things to do besides get into trouble.” He also wanted to create a positive relationship between the police department and the people.
“I remember when I was a kid and people talked to cops. Parents taught their kids to go to the police if they needed help. I’m trying to create that kind of atmosphere. Now, it seems like people fear us.”
He didn’t mean the fun type of fear he created at the Haunted House.
“Some people are afraid to talk to the police,” he said. “They have this idea that if they see someone talking to the cops, that person is either a nark or they are in trouble.”
Ferguson often likes to say a friendly hello while patrolling the town, but the response he says he often gets is “I didn’t do it.” He responds with, “I just wanted to say hi.”
Not everyone is afraid to interact with the officer.
“I also get people asking, ‘What can I do to help?’ I say, ‘Join the Neighborhood Watch.’”
The newly-created Neighborhood Watch program is run by the community with support from the Police Department. The Haunted House was also utilized as a fundraiser with half of the donations going to the Reserve Officer program, to help pay for uniforms and bulletproof vests, and the other half to the Neighborhood Watch.
“The Neighborhood Watch will use the money to help pay for signs. It shows that the neighborhood is watching. It gives us more eye witnesses and more reporting. Now, it’s not just the officers and the reserve trying to fight crime.”
Ferguson says frustration is another emotion people often associate with the department.
“I’ve heard that people say there is no point to calling. We won’t show up.”
He explained that because he is a department of one “emergencies in progress get priority” but people should still call.
“I work with the Sheriff’s Department and the Tribal Police but we have a big area and a small amount of officers. But, I understand. People are frustrated. They say, ‘Why report if nothing is going to happen?’ I say, ‘Keep reporting.’ If things get reported it creates a record.
“A record of calls might show we need more police force. The Sheriff’s Department might see that there is a need in this area. When people report, it helps me collect bread crumbs to build a trail to figure out the problem. And I can track behavior to help people with prevention. Sometimes, you don’t see the effects but reporting does make a difference.”
Ferguson hopes to continue developing a relationship with the community.
“Creating a safe community is everything to me. And I hope to continue getting to know the people. I’m still throwing some ideas around but I hope to do more things to bring the community together.”
