Linda A. Krutsinger 21

A recent string of events is forcing Carbondale Police to work overtime and the department to prioritize resources.

Since Oct. 8, Carbondale Police have been involved in investigations including two homicides and two nonfatal shootings. Lt. Bob Goro said officers will be provided with counseling from the Critical Stress Debriefing Team, scheduled to arrive today at the Carbondale office.

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It’s certainly a strange series of events this past couple weeks that’s tested our resources and stress levels, Chief Don Strom said. People have risen to the occasion to put in the extra hours, but that’s tough on them and their families.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday when a 5-year-old Carbondale girl apparently was fatally shot by her mother.

Authorities were called to the home of Apollonia C. Thomas, 30, of 3016 W. Sunset Apartment A, at 12:25 p.m. Saturday. Carbondale Police went to the apartment after being notified by Thomas’ brother in Georgia that Thomas told their mother she shot her 5-year-old daughter, Victoria.

Police negotiated with Thomas for about an hour before taking her into custody. Police said Thomas appeared twice at the apartment’s window once with the gun up to her mouth, indicating her intent to shoot herself, and once with both the child and weapon in her hands.

Victoria was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale of a single gunshot to the head. Thomas faces three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter. She is being held at Jackson County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond and is on suicide watch.

Thank goodness it’s not always like this. No one can predict these things, Strom said. I hope a break in the action is around the corner.

Investigators have not identified any suspects in the Oct. 8 homicide of Pamela A. Travis, 29, of Carbondale, who was found dead at 11 a.m. inside her residence at The Fields apartment complex, 700 S. Lewis Lane.

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Police said a small fire was set near her body following her death, and she had burns on her body. Travis died of asphyxiation.

On Oct. 13, a confrontation between Carbondale Police and a knife-wielding man ended when a police officer shot Norman Moore, 24, of Carbondale, in the chest.

Moore was shot at about 4:30 a.m. at the Sports Center, 1212 E. Walnut St., after police said that he made a threatening movement toward an officer with the knife and ignored orders to drop the weapon. Moore faces several charges, including attempted murder.

He was released from the hospital and is being held in Jackson County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.

Police also are investigating the Friday shooting of an SIUC student shot in the left forearm during an altercation that took place at about 6:30 p.m. in the 400 block of South Marion Street.

Cory L. Robinson, an 18-year-old resident of Wright Hall from Chicago Heights, was treated and released for a single gunshot wound. Police said Robinson was involved in a yelling match between two small groups of men, when an unidentified man pulled out a handgun and started shooting.

A discarded handgun was found in the area of the incident, but police have not positively linked it to the shooting. Investigators are searching for a suspect.

Goro said the increased demand for investigative personnel has required the department to re-organize some personnel distribution and require additional man hours on the part of officers.

A number of officers have been putting in long hours of overtime to deal with the increased demand for investigations, he said.

Goro said officers will be provided with counseling from the Critical Stress Debriefing Team, scheduled to arrive today at the Carbondale office.

Officers having trouble with the events of the past weeks are encouraged to attend these sessions, Sgt. Luanne Brown said. We would be disappointed in officers if they weren’t disturbed to some extent by the recent events.

Brown said that in addition to the debriefing team and police chaplain, the Carbondale Crime Victim Advocate’s office will provide counseling to officers as needed.

Events have happened so quickly this past couple of weeks that is has a wearing effect on the officers, Brown said. Officers are putting in extremely long hours, are starting to feel pretty hammered and need all the help they can get from the public.