Wanted posters tacked to bulletin boards in the men's restroom at the St. Clair County sheriff's office have led to several arrests. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. John Fulton, St. Clair County sheriff's department)
By Kim Bell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/26/2008
BELLEVILLE -- Leave it to St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl J. Justus to come with up another off-the-wall crime-fighting idea: the urinal.
A few years ago, deputies began hanging "wanted" posters on a bulletin board above the urinals inside the men's restroom at the sheriff's department.
And, sure enough, it's worked. About 10 people have been arrested because of the tactic -- most recently, a youth pastor wanted for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Earlier this month, Deputy Dan Hill of the street crimes unit was using the facilities when he glanced up and saw a familiar face on the board. A new mugshot had been added to the board. The pastor was wanted for an alleged sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.
"Hill said, 'I know who that is, I know where he stays,' and they went out and picked him up," said Sgt. John Fulton, administrative assistant to the sheriff.
One of the department's deputies, Jason Jenks, was at the O'Fallon, Ill., homecoming picnic with family and friends a few years ago when he spotted a man in the crowd whose face he'd seen on one of the urinal "wanted" postings. The man was wanted for a probation violation. Jenks was off duty at the time so he pointed the man out to a local sergeant, and they teamed up to make the arrest.
Over the weekend, a St. Clair County corrections officer was working security on MetroLink and noticed a man who looked familiar staring back at him and acting "weird." The officer thought he knew the man but couldn't figure out how. Until, of course, he returned to work at the sheriff's office, used the restroom and saw the wanted posters. Close, but no arrest there.
Fulton admits the location is unique. "It is kind of a goofy idea, but that's what he (the sheriff) is known for."
It's the latest in a series of crime-stopping techniques used by Justus, who has been sheriff since 1982. The department has made arrests after getting tips from mail-in "crime coupons." Residents clip a special coupon from a newspaper, write in a tip and mail it to police.
In 1990, Justus set up a phony shoe store in Swansea and mailed notices to the last known address of everyone on his department's "wanted" list. They were told they had won a free pair of athletic shoes. As suspects showed up to claim their prize, they were arrested. It netted 33 arrests that day.
Justus liked that shoe sting so much that he hopes to come up with something similar for today's criminals. "I've been thinking about that one all the time," Justus says. "I'm trying to come up with a new wrinkle."
But crime tips flowing from restrooms? Justus got the idea from hotels restrooms, which often post newspapers on bulletin boards over the urinals. At the sheriff's department, the restroom with the posters is used by deputies, corrections officers and other male employees, including the maintenance and kitchen staff.
"Our own people say it's good idea because everybody uses the restroom. You're standing there at a urinal, and you've gotta look at it," Justus adds.
