Logansport, Indiana — November 2002
Logansport serves as the county seat of Cass County. Located 68 miles north of Indianapolis, Logansport is home to nearly 20,000 individuals and covers 16.6 square kilometers of land. According to Police Chief Patrick Shively, it also features 110 miles of streets his officers patrol every day.

Meth Labs Are Community Problem
One of Chief Shively's top goals is to rid the town of the prevalence of meth labs. Methamphetamine, also known as meth, speed, or crank, is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. It is an increasingly popular drug used at rave parties and with college-age students. Meth labs, used to make the drug illegally, are discovered in houses, apartments, motel rooms, and other locations. The number of labs has been increasing annually.

Chief Shively and the Logansport Police Department are using public education sessions to inform the business community in Cass County and other public safety departments about the labs. With the help of the community, more labs can be uncovered and the department can be notified of suspicious activity.

More Interaction with Community is a Goal
The Logansport Police Department is striving to become more involved with their community. Programs such as the annual Bike Safety Rodeo or the Stranger Danger program provide opportunities to mingle with children and adults in a casual, fun setting. Officers are also providing presentations with their canine team, coaching pixie league softball, and getting involved in a variety of school-based programs.
Chief Shively is also considering developing a public service picnic for next fall at their community's Riverside Park. His ultimate goal is to rid the thought that a police officer is a stranger. To keep the communication lines open and to approach the community as a team, the chief meets monthly with Fire Chief Ron Holcomb, EMS personnel, and other public safety personnel.

Medical Standards on Horizon
The International Association of Chiefs of Police recently hosted their annual conference in Minneapolis. One of the topics discussed was the development of medical standards for law enforcement personnel. The fire service follows medical standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA standards are being used as a guide to potentially develop a similar program for law enforcement personnel. Chief Shively supports the development of standards because "anytime you can provide guidelines to assist a department to improve its overall health is great." However, he is concerned about the ability of law enforcement agencies to cover the cost of such services.

The Logansport PD Way
After using Public Safety Medical Services for applicant exams for many years, Chief Shively began offering voluntary physical exams for his sworn officers onsite. Twelve of the department's 44 sworn officers participated this year. However, the thorough physical, hearing and vision testing, blood testing, and personalized counseling led to a lot of positive feedback and interest by the officers who did not participate. Therefore, he expects an even bigger turnout next year. As for expense, the chief encourages departments to start with a basic program. "You can offer a basic physical exam, as well as, explore other options to finance quality healthcare for your officers", he states. He prefers to address problems from a preventative standpoint versus a reactionary one. He encourages police chiefs to provide a quality physical exam for their officers to allow them to address their health concerns.

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