Last Updated - 24 October 2008
Published by: Officer Al Ward
Patrol North Community Policing
3015 E. 21st, Wichita KS. 67214
Work: 688-9500 / Fax: 688-9326
E-mail: award@Wichita.gov
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Community Activity
Hello residents of 46 beat.
I hope you find the information I have placed on this site very useful. I have done away with the old business for this news letter because I have placed so much information in regards to current events on this site. I have also added a new area which specifically will deal with crime data. I covers mostly what we at the Police Department call "Part One Crimes". These are crimes more serious in nature. If there have been no instances of a particular crime in our area then we it will not be listed. Only crimes that have occurred in our beat area will be listed below. Now you have an opportunity to see what officers see when they look at crime information each month.
First I want to cover some new things happening on the beat.
New Leadership at Patrol North
In June of this year Captain Jeff Easter took the helm of the Patrol North bureau. Captain Jeff Easter joined the Wichita Police Department in August 1989. Since joining the department, Capt. Easter has advanced within the organization, attaining the ranks of Detective, Sergeant and Lieutenant. His new assignment is as the commander of the Patrol North Bureau.
Captain Easter believes in combining a mixture of traditional policing with the philosophy community policing. Capt. Easter believes Community Policing Beat Coordinators are the sprockit that turns the spokes of the traditional policing wheel. Together, with coordinators pointing the direction and traditional policing officers leading the charge utilizing traditional methods, the north bureau will become more effective in their efforts to reduce and eliminate crime. Coorinators will analysis crime date in an effort to spot crime trends within their respective beats. Once the trend has been documented and analyzed the information will be passed on to members of the beat team who will work together with coordinators to develop a solution to the trend.
Morale is high and offiicers have a new found enthusiasm. Expect major changes in how patrol north conducts business.
BURGLARIES, LARCENIES AND AUTO THEFTS ON THE RISE
If you check out the beat stats you will notice there has been an increase of residential burglaries on the beat. After reviewing the crime information about these cases I have found the trend. Many of these auto thefts, burglaries and larcenies have taken place at homes where the garage door has been left open. Vehicles have been stolen while left in the garage warming up, tools stolen from tool boxes left in plain site in the garage and other items stolen from vehicle left open in the garage.
I have asked on several occassions that you please close your garage doors when you are not in the garage or outside where you can watch what is going on. People have ignored this and thieves have taken advantage of our leaving the door open and have stolen many valuable things from us.
To combat this the beat team will now patrol the areas looking for garage door which have been left open. We will contact home owners regardless of the time of day or night and ask them to close their garage doors. I hope I don't have to wake you up at 2 AM and ask you to close your door but if I do then maybe we can decrease the number of thefts in our beat area.
October 2008
Personal Safety/ Dealing with a Physical Attack
PHASES OF ATTACK:
The degree of aggression varies from assault to assault, but there are three phases to an attack. Phase one- confrontation- the attacker wants to engage you on some level to test your response. What will your response be? Phase two- attack- this can last seconds or, in worst-case scenarios, hours or days. There are no set rules for how to survive an attack. Whatever you need to do to stay alive is appropriate. Phase three- retreat- in a non-confrontational way, prompt the attacker to leave. For instance say “that’s all my money now leave.” Don’t start screaming at your attacker. Your goal now is to get away quickly. Sometimes if you become verbally or physically aggressive with your attacker you may start the process all over again.
DEFENDING AN ATTACK:
There are several ways to defend an attack. However, not all attacks can be defended. These are a few ideas on ways that you may defend an attack. Remember these may not always work and in some instances nothing works.
COMPLIANCE:
If compliance is one of the options you choose, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Attempt to get a good description of the attacker. Look for an escape route or alternative. You must always use good judgment.
SCREAMING:
Screaming or yelling depends on the circumstances. Are there people around that may hear you? It may be more successful that pleading or crying. Screaming or yelling acknowledges that you are unwilling to be controlled. If at all possible, run to another location.
PSYCHOLOGICAL:
Use your mind and try to get out of the situation. Tell the attacker that you have some type of disease or come up with an excuse such as you hear a car coming. Tell the attacker that you’re pregnant. Pretend to go along and look for an opportunity to run or escape.
SELF-DEFENSE:
Consider your own personality and take classes at a qualified school with an instructor.
WEAPONS:
If you are going to use a weapon, you must be familiar with that weapon whether it is a gun, taser, knife, pepper spray or other type. Be sure to check that your weapon is legal to carry and any restrictions that could be in place for that particular weapon. Weapons involve reaction time and location. Where is it when you need it? You must remember that the weapon can be taken away from you and used against you. If a weapon is used, it must be done so effectively.
Crime Prevention Tip of the Month Brought to you by the Wichita Police Department Crime Prevention Unit
If you have any questions or information please contact myself or police investigations at 316-688-9500 or 316-268-4407.
Neighborhood Watch
There is a big push by the city to establish neighborhood watches in as many neighborhoods as possible. I have been tasked with finding neighborhoods that would like to establish a watch and helping them get started. If you would like to get a neighborhood watch started in your block or you would like to know what a neighborhood watch is, please feel free to contact me and we will work together to get it going. We have all of the material you need to get started, we will even give the presentation to your neighbors, provide invitations and other materials needed, monitor your progress and provide follow-up assistance if needed. Basically all you have to do is express an interest and we will come and help you do the rest. If you have an interest contact me via e-mail or phone at 688-9500.
I have had this on our site for months now but it keeps happening everyday!! Please Read and take the appropriate action to protect you and your loved ones.
Identity Theft
You can view a report complied by The Federal Trade Commission online at:
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. It effects each and every one of us whether directly, we are the victims of identity theft, or indirectly through higher prices companies have to charge to regain loss profit. While we probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue. You can help guard against identity theft:
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Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information: can you choose to have it kept confidential?
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Pay attention to billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.
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Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you plan on being away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold.
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Put passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like you mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of you SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
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Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you'll actually need.
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Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with.
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Keep items with personal information in a safe place.
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Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.
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Find out who has access to you personal information at work and verify that the records are kept in a secure location.
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Give you SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.
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Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place.
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Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year.
You can order them together at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
Helpful Numbers to Remember
Wichita Police Department Community Affairs - 268-4101
Triad Council Mental Health Association - 685-1821 ext. 297
Emergency Reporting – 911
D. A. 18TH Judicial District Consumer Fraud Division - 383-7921
Kansas Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection - 1-800-432-2310
Other Helpful Numbers
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Office of Central Inspection (OCI): 268-4477
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Animal Control: 268-8473
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Environmental Health: 268-8531
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COMCARE of Sedgwick County Crisis Line: 660-7525
Feel free to visit the satellite office located in the Atwater Neighborhood City Hall at 2755 E. 19th St. North.
Officer Ward can be reached at these Numbers: · Patrol North: 688-9500 · Atwater Neighborhood City Hall: 303-8019 or 303-8016