Missouri Gas Energy

1. 2009 WSUTA/IURPA CONFERENCECRIMINAL PROSECUTION & POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPSPRESENTED BY JEFF HARRISMISSOURI GAS ENERGY

2. Missouri Gas Energy • Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri • Natural Gas distribution Company (division of Southern Union Company ) • Serve aprox. 500,000 customers in 155 communities

3. Making the case for Criminal Prosecution • Criminal Prosecution is not a Goal – it is a progressive measure to be taken when activity dictates/persists • Criminal Prosecution is about Safety-not Collections • Primary Goal – stop illegal/unsafe activity and serve as a deterrent • Secondary Goal – recover lost revenue and prevent future losses • Ultimate wins consist of legal, active customers

4. Develop a company Prosecution Policy • Understand that there is no such thing as an all-inclusive policy • Policies can range from Zero Tolerance to pursuing only the “worst of the worst” • Policy should include the handling and storage of evidence • Remember - the theft/restitution amount is for the time frame of the theft only

5. State court may be preferable –but not always possible. • Case load – “Property Crimes” are not always a priority • Monetary requirements – Statute may say one thing, reality may be another. • Arrest record / prior convictions may be a determining factor.

6. Don’t overlook the value and accessibility of Municipal Courts. • Charges may be filed at the scene. • Warrants can be issued based on a Police Report. • Minimal amount of time and expense to the company to pursue. This can be a “one-person operation”. • Municipal Prosecution typically results in a quicker disposition.

7. Partner with Law Enforcement and the Prosecutor’s Office • Find out what their Procedures are. - P.D. – Who handles the cases? - Who files warrants - P.D. or Prosecutor? • Tailor your investigations / paperwork to fit their requirements. • Take their interests into consideration – is it really necessary to call the Police out on every incident?

8. Court ProceduresBe Persistent and Consistent • Be patient if this is new territory. Sometimes, Prosecutors and Judges have to be re-introduced to Ordinances. • Have your ducks in a row before you ever enter a courtroom. • Develop and earn the right reputation. • ALWAYS reinforce the safety issue.

9. Court Procedures – cont. • Don’t project a personal involvement. • Don’t use the system as a Collection Agency – follow through to the end. • Notify the Court in advance if you can’t be there. • Track Restitution Orders.

10. Criminal Prosecution “Final Thoughts” • Work with and within the System. • KNOW what it takes and be prepared. • Always reinforce the safety aspect. • Most important of all – be CONSISTENT and PERSISTENT!

11. The Power of Partnerships • The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year. - John Foster Dulles • When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. – Confucius • Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. - Vince Lombardi • The Lord gave us two ends - one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most. - Ann Landers

12. PartnershipOpportunities • Look inward first – How can we help ourselves? • Revenue Protection; Credit and Collections; Account Services/Phone Center; Field Personnel … • Communicate and educate each other on needs and practices • Face-to-face meetings help to build relationships • Offer/request Training on each other’s duties • Possibly develop new Policies and/or Programs • Reporting/notification; Locking Policies; Incentive Programs etc.

13. Partnership Opportunities • Law Enforcement • Offer Training on Diversion Recognition/Officer Safety • Police Officers are “creatures of habit” – plant the seed of information, and you have more “eyes on the street” • Learning their Policies and Procedures will streamline your efforts

14. Partnership Opportunities • Housing Authority – Section 8 Housing • Federal Regulations require all utilities to be on. • Waivers allow for information sharing. • Often the site of illegal hook-ups and Fraud. • Failure to comply can result in being terminated from the Program for a minimum of 3 years (there is often a 2+ year waiting list to re-apply). • Offer Diversion Recognition / Safety Training to Inspectors – especially valuable with basement meter locations.

15. Partnership Opportunities • The Media • Contrary to a sometimes popular belief, Media is NOT a 4-letter word • The Evening News is a great, cost-free way to reach a mass audience in a timely manner. • Be Proactive – not reactive!

16. Advice from an Expert • Do your research • Check out the Reporters in your area. • Ask around – who do people trust? • Get a referral from Law Enforcement • To tell a good story, you need people. • You need to show how people are affected. • Offer a ride along. Lara Moritz – KMBC-TV9 Kansas City, Missouri

17. Media Tips • Contacting a Reporter • If you have ever met them, contact them directly. • If not, contact the Assignment Desk, Assignment Manager, or Assistant News Director. • Communication is key! • Sit down and talk to the Reporter and Photographer before any video is shot. • Be clear about what the message is. • Don’t TELL the Reporter “how” to do the story. • Counterproductive. • Can create a hostile environment. • Remember-They edit the story!

18. Media Tips • Follow-up / Maintaining contact • If you feel the Reporter did a good job, call and tell them. • Pitch other story ideas to them. • E-mail articles to them. • A good Reporter will keep your contact information and contact you for follow-up stories. • They may need the ideas from you. • Don’t be offended if they can’t be done immediately.

19. One last Safety Message • Remember – Natural Gas and open flames don’t mix!

20. Thank you for your time and interest • Questions??? • Jeff Harris • Loss Prevention Investigator • Missouri Gas Energy • (816) 360-5868 • Jeff.harris@sug.com