After a long history of past problems, the Byrnes Mill Police Department is working hard to change its image.
And an upgrade in reputation appears to be happening, one press release – and one turtle – at a time.
Let’s start with the press release.
Last week, SafeWise, which sells home security systems, announced its 20 safest cities in Missouri. Byrnes Mill, located in far north Jefferson County with a population of about 3,000, ranked fourth, on the basis of FBI crime statistics and U.S. Census data, the press release said.
New Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio, hired in October 2018, is understandably pleased by the ranking.
He said he found it “overwhelming” and felt a “sense of pride for the whole department.”
In his 18 months on the job, he’s been on a mission to both improve the department and change perceptions about it.
I’ve written several stories about Selvaggio’s measures. He’s sold unnecessary police weaponry, ordered body cameras for officers, changed policies for handling evidence and bolstered training, among other changes.
All were upgrades I’m sure the public can appreciate.
But Selvaggio also made news for wanting to save the lives of turtles looking for a romantic partner and for his efforts to help a family find its missing miniature cow.
In summer 2019, with Selvaggio’s encouragement, in addition to writing necessary tickets and making necessary arrests, Byrnes Mill officers started helping turtles.
When they spotted one crossing a road and could spare a minute, they would stop and carry the terrapin safely to the other side. By summer’s end, an informal tally kept at the Police Station showed that 42 turtles had been saved.
Then came Zacheus, the zebu (tiny cow). Also in summer 2019, he wandered away from his High Ridge home, and after 30 days of travail, was found in Byrnes Mill, with help from the police force to track him down.
In addition to more professionalism, the Police Department’s humanity has been on display, contributing, I think, to the community’s sense of security.
The SafeWise honor is not the only feather in Selvaggio’s cap.
At a July 2019 aldermanic meeting, Byrnes Mill Mayor Robert Kiczenski presented Frank with a small metal turtle, which he said could sit on the chief’s desk.
“I think it is just a great service he is doing,” Kiczenski said. “It just shows concern for the whole environment.”
Kiczenski said he has received a lot of positive feedback from residents about the turtle saves.
Dan Zarlenga, St. Louis regional media specialist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said saving turtles from being squashed by vehicles is important.
“Unfortunately, hitting a turtle is not like hitting a squirrel or something,” he said. “Turtles tend to be long-lived species. They don’t produce as prodigiously as some other animals do.”
Zarlenga said most turtles can live up to 30 years in the wild, and box turtles have been recorded to live up to 80 years.
“It (turtles killed on roads) is a significant factor,” he said. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, poor little turtle killed.’ It gets to the point where it is unfortunately a noticeable impact on their population from getting hit by vehicles.”
My own perceptions about the Byrnes Mill Police Department have changed since I started reporting on the town in January 2019. I’ve gone from negative to positive.
I grew up in House Springs, off Hwy. FF and Lynch Road, and when I started driving, my dad gave me a stern warning about the police in Byrnes Mill, telling me I had to slow down there and avoid getting pulled over.
My dad is a firefighter and has high respect for police officers. But he was also aware of police problems in Byrnes Mill and didn’t want me to have a run-in. The Leader’s morgue of stories about those troubles only confirmed my dad’s opinion.
Selvaggio says he’s aware, of course, of the problems of the past, but doesn’t want to dwell on it. Instead, he wants to move forward to ensure that residents have a professional department today and tomorrow.
“It’s difficult to get somebody to change their perspective, especially somebody who’s had a bad experience,” he said.
Selvaggio said when he accepted the job he heard a story about two older women who would drive 20 miles out of their way to avoid the possibility of being pulled over by a Byrnes Mill police officer.
“That bothered me badly, that somebody would be afraid to drive through a community, because they’re afraid of the police,” Selvaggio said. “You should feel safe to travel anywhere. If you’re a criminal, that’s fine, but, for an elderly woman to be scared to drive through a city, I found that appalling.”
He said the story motivated him to work hard for all kinds of improvements.
So, as a result, it seems Byrnes Mill is becoming safer for humans, tiny cows and turtles.
By May 7, police officers had saved four turtles so far this season.
Selvaggio has a goal of 50.
