BLAND — Bland Police Chief Charles (Chuck) Holtz spoke on his department’s work for the month during the July 13 Bland Board of Aldermen meeting, reporting increased law enforcement activity, a successful community fundraiser, plans for equipment upgrades and continued efforts to address traffic and drug-related concerns.

Holtz reported that in June, Bland officers responded to 61 calls for service, conducted 146 traffic stops and made eight arrests, including warrant, drug and driving while intoxicated arrests and other traffic-related offenses.

The department also remained active in code enforcement, mailing 13 violation letters and issuing four citations.

“They work their tail off,” Holtz said of his officers. “When they’re here, they’re working.”

The chief also praised officers and volunteers for their work during Bland’s Fourth of July celebration, which served as the department’s largest annual fundraiser for the Shop With a Hero program.

Holtz said the department set a goal of raising $3,000 to ensure children living within the Bland city limits could participate in the Christmas shopping program. By the end of the event, that goal had been surpassed, with $3550 raised by the fundraiser.

Last year, Holtz said the program served 10 children from Bland, with approximately $250 available for each child through the countywide program.

A major contributor to the fundraiser was the event’s food stand, which generated $3,442 before expenses. Demand was so high that volunteers exhausted their original food supply and had to purchase additional inventory during the celebration.

“We’re getting a little better on guessing how much food we need every year,” Holtz said, adding that organizers will likely purchase closer to $3,000 worth of food before next year’s event.

Holtz also recognized the contribution of two young girls who operated a lemonade stand during the celebration. Rather than keeping their earnings, the girls donated $180 to the Shop With a Hero fundraiser.

“Those two girls raised up $180,” Holtz said. “They’re not even from here. They did it all out of the kindness of their hearts.”

He also thanked the Bland Fire Department and numerous volunteers who staffed the food stand throughout the day to make the fundraiser a success.

Security during the Fourth of July celebration also went smoothly, Holtz said. Six officers, including three additional safety professionals approved by the board, worked the event. Only one arrest was made during the evening, and Holtz said it was unrelated to the fireworks celebration.

“I think seeing officers out there made them think twice about doing anything dumb,” he said.

Looking ahead to future events, Holtz said he would like to increase security staffing to eight officers to improve parking management and traffic flow.

Holtz also updated aldermen on several equipment projects.

Although the department did not receive the full $50,000 requested through the Blue Shield Grant program, Bland was awarded $28,985.50. Holtz said the funding will allow the department to replace outdated body cameras and handheld radios while improving officer safety.

He explained that the department’s portable radios have become unreliable.

“If you’re chasing somebody or you’re fighting with somebody, I guarantee you that’s not going to work,” Holtz said. “It’s a safety issue.”

The department also received donated tasers, laptop computers and body cameras from the New Haven Police Department. Holtz said he is working with Motorola to determine whether the donated body cameras can be integrated into Bland’s system and whether grant funds can be used to purchase a multi-year data storage subscription similar to one recently obtained by the city of Rosebud.

Holtz also discussed the possibility of expanding the department’s staffing in the future. He said Officer Joseph Polham has expressed interest in becoming full-time, and he hopes in 2027 those discussions can begin.

Following the chief’s report, aldermen raised concerns about speeding along South Main Street and other residential areas.

One alderman asked officers to spend more time parked along South Main as a visible deterrent to speeding.

“I don’t care if they write a ticket or not, but if they would come up and sit on South Main,” Alderman Rex Ridenhour said. “That is a racetrack.”

Board members also discussed reports of suspected drug activity near the school parking lot.

Holtz said the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force has been active in the area and encouraged residents to continue reporting suspicious activity.

“They have definitely been working in this area,” Holtz said.