Creve Coeur Police Officer Recounts Joplin Service

When Sergeant Jon Romas was in Joplin in late May, residents of the southwest Missouri town peppered him with geographical queries.

“Actually I got a lot of questions about where Creve Coeur was,” Romas said in a phone interview. “When they heard of how far away … I was from my police department, they were very moved and very appreciative of the response from all over Missouri and all over the Midwest coming there.”

Romas was in Joplin during Memorial Day weekend to assist with the town’s law enforcement functions. He said a number of jurisdictions from Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma were on hand to assist.

In particular, Romas said he manned a post near an intersection on the parameter of the disaster zone.

“It was real interesting,” Romas said. “It was interesting not only from the fact to see how the city [was damaged], but also to talk with the people there and kind of learn what their experiences were and how tragic it really was.”

Although there was a “huge event” occurring in Joplin, Romas said there was still a need to fight crime.

“There wasn’t as much crime or as much things happening,” Romas said. “But the crime didn’t stop. The Joplin police had to deal with the crime, as well as deal with the disaster response. While I was there on a post, they had a leaving the scene accident where an impaired driver struck a child and took off. And they ended up tracking that person down to their house and arresting them. But it was a good example of how in the midst of this entire calamity, the police department or the law enforcement function still has to continue on.”

Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano was in Joplin late last week. She joined Gov. Jay Nixon in thanking law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel for their assistance.

“The Obama administration remains dedicated to helping Joplin and communities throughout Missouri as we work together in our recovery efforts to become stronger and more resilient than ever before,” Napolitano said in a statement. “We will not leave until the job is finished, and we will continue to support our team of federal, state, local and community partners that are working tirelessly to help the people of Missouri rebuild their communities.”

Romas said residents were apprecitative.

“But everybody’s disposition toward the National Guard and the police were very appreciative. I mean, they were very happy that we were here,” Romas said. “There were a lot of volunteers there from church groups and different organizations. They were really very appreciative about the police departments and search and rescue departments and fire departments from all different parts of the state to help them out.”