City of St. George, Utah :: Living in the Moment

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175 East 200 North

St. George, UT 84770

(435) 627-4000

March 17, 2010

Police Department 200 East 265 North St. George, UT 84770 (435) 634-5000
Animal Control 605 East Skyline Dr. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 634-5829
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Living in the Moment

I love this time of year. I enjoy the change of the seasons, the cool nights, the opportunities that the holidays bring, the pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, and setting up my Christmas village complete with the train. My father in law has been playing Christmas music since July. "I've waited long enough" he says as he puts on the Bing Crosby and Anne Murray Christmas CD's. For many of us this will be a joyous time, full of anticipation, family and fun. There are so many things to be done, so many things to prepare for. At the police department, it is a time of preparation of a different sort. We realize that for many of us, this will become a time of sadness and stress. The holiday rush of anticipation also leads to increased crime and an increase in crashes, injuries and death as the "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date" attitude of the Alice in Wonderland tale carries over to real life. We have extra patrols slated for store parking lots, for busy intersections that become more dangerous as people rush about their activities with no thought to their surroundings or to others, and for the neighborhoods where thefts and burglaries will increase.

Crime is a community problem that the police department exists to deal with. But it remains a community problem, not a police problem. We are here to increase awareness, to elicit compliance from those so inclined to break the law and contribute to the lack of safety (the very visible minority), and to urge support from the silent uninvolved majority. We need your help. It can all come down to living more fully in the moment. Let me explain.

When you are driving, DRIVE. Don't be on the phone, eating, disciplining the kids or thinking about the things you have to do or the problems that you are faced with. You are doing more than one thing, neither of them effectively. Live in the moment you are currently engaged in. If you have to do something else, pull over, do it, then begin driving again. Don't divide yourself. You will be more aware of other motorists and safer yourself if you concentrate more fully on your driving.

WATCH OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS and tell them you are watching. When they go to the store, tell them you will watch their house til they get back. Ask them to do the same for you. Many burglaries occur in the hour after someone leaves the house. It doesn't require that someone is gone over night or over the weekend.

When you leave your home or your car, THINK MORE FULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW: leaving your car or home unattended. Take the few seconds to more fully concentrate on leaving things secure. Lock up and leave property out of view.

ELIMINATE THE STRESS. Organize your time so that you are not rushed. If you do this, you will be able to concentrate more fully on the thing you are doing, rather than becoming sidetracked by the millions of things that you need to do.

Slow down, back off and THINK ABOUT OTHERS. You will be a safer driver, more aware of your surroundings and be able to take the precautions that remove you from being a victim of crime. You will also be able to help others more at this time of year.

As you shop, look around you. BE AWARE that there are people that would take your handbag or packages from your cart or your car. When you put your items in your car, move the car to another spot. If someone is in the parking lot watching potential victims, they will see your car leave and concentrate elsewhere.

It has been said that for evil to triumph, all that is required is for good people to do nothing. We actually become part of the problem with complacency and inaction. By doing these things, we will be happier, less stressed and more involved in the spirit of the holidays.

Craig Harding
Public Information Officer
St. George Police Department

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