ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — To reduce crime in St. Charles County Parks this summer, school resource officers will be stationed across the county’s 18 parks starting Memorial Day.

The added patrol comes after an increased number of car break-ins and stolen vehicles in the parks last summer, according to police officer Jaclyn Gubricky, who is a school resource officer (SRO) at Becky-David Elementary.

At least one SRO will be stationed at each park with a focus on the highly visited ones, including Broemmelsiek Park, Indian Camp Creek Park, Veterans Tribute Park, among others. SROs will still be present at schools during the summer session.

In 2022, Gubricky said the police department received 860 calls for service to the parks compared to 671 calls in 2021, resulting in a 28% increase. The most frequent incidents were items stolen from vehicles, and property damage and vandalism, according to Gubricky. 

The license plate reader cameras, located at each park entrance, that alerts dispatch of stolen license plates and stolen vehicles totaled 469 hits last year.

As more community members have started to come back to the parks after the COVID-19 pandemic, along with rising crime, Gubricky said having SROs in the parks makes sense.

Thieves are looking for easy opportunities, Gubricky said, and “parks unfortunately are very easy targets,” as some visitors may forget to lock their doors or not take any safety precautions at all.

“We’re here to prevent as much as we can,” Gubricky said. “When (thieves) generally see an officer, they’re going to move on.”

If a park visitor makes a call to the police department, an officer stationed there will be able to respond faster, according to Gubricky.

Patrolling the parks also will give the officers a chance to engage in the community outside of schools. Besides those duties, they will visit with residents in various neighborhoods, monitor summer camps and events, and host small outreach events, according to a press release.

Gubricky said she hopes to see a different part of the community this summer, in addition to some familiar faces from Becky-David Elementary.

“We’re generally trying to make this a better place, so hopefully they can see that with our added presence too,” she said.

“I’m really hoping I get to see some of the kids in the parks because I’m going to miss them all summer long.”

Gubricky encourages park visitors to say hello and chat with the officers.

“We love to talk. If you have a question or concern, bring it to our attention because maybe we can actually do something about it,” she said.

“Problems go unnoticed because (citizens) don’t want to call; They feel like they’re bothering somebody. You’re not a bother at all. We’re here all day.”

When visiting a park, Gubricky advised people to lock their car doors, take valuables with them and call the police if they see any suspicious activity.

“We live in the community and it’s important that we protect our own community,” she said.

SROs will monitor the parks through Aug. 18.