Crime Prevention Tips - Spectrum Articles for the next year
For many years the public and law enforcement coexisted, and the public knew we were there but didn’t quite have a handle on exactly what we did, why we did it or how we did it. Over the years this fog has lifted and the general public now has the opportunity to be very aware of what the job of law enforcement entails.
It has been 4 years now that the St. George Police Department has been able to submit articles to The Spectrum in this weekly format, the purpose being to convey information from law enforcement to you, the public. These articles have addressed current crimes and enforcement efforts, outlined safety tips and highlighted upcoming events. Many of the topics are traffic related. Some of the ideas for topics have come from other agencies such as the Utah Highway Patrol and other departments in the city such as zoning and streets and the animal shelter. We get many of our topics as a result of questions that we receive from you, and we want this to continue.
Some of the articles have addressed “warm and fuzzy” topics such as values and New Year’s resolutions. While this may seem as a departure from law enforcement topics, in reality they relate directly to the types of calls that we respond to. If we can get someone to change their behavior, we might not have to respond on a theft call or a domestic violence call. Getting someone to be more patient might result in one less road rage incident. Getting someone to think about others might make them more aware as they drive, removing a crash from our streets. Many thanks to The Spectrum and their dedication of valuable newspaper space to this effort.
Another effort to further the spread of information is the 13th annual St. George Police Department Citizen’s Academy and the class roster is filling up. It is scheduled to begin the last week of January. We encourage anyone interested 18 years old or older to apply now as the class will be capped at 35 people.
Traffic issues will continue to be the majority of the topics addressed. Motor Officer Anthony Wilcox informed me of one recurring type of traffic problem that evidenced itself three times over the holiday in the form of crashes. This is when the semi-truck trailer combination or large profile vehicle wants to make a right turn and leaves a space between the vehicle and the right hand curb to make the turn without running up onto the sidewalk. Many motorists following wrongly assume that the large vehicle is going straight and pull up alongside it, also to turn right. The large truck begins to turn right and the rear tires run up onto the vehicle now located in it’s blind spot. We must allow room for large profile vehicles to turn right, and they must have their right turn signal on as a warning to following traffic, which must also be alert enough to see what is happening and back off to allow the right turn.
Burglaries will continue to be addressed with safety tips to prevent these crimes. Many are happening now in college housing. These apartments typically have many bedrooms with a common area. Doors are left open as the residents come and go, leaving valuables exposed to theft. Normal security precautions such as locking the doors and having visitors remain in the common areas are not observed.
We welcome your suggestions and comments. After all, this column is really a result of your needs. Some of the questions might be lumped with others that have a common theme. Some might warrant an entire column by themselves, such as how to negotiate a roundabout. More on that one later. Thank you for your feedback. It’s appreciated. Last year was great and we are looking forward to serving you in 2008.
Posted by
Sgt. Craig Harding
Public Information Officer |
