Published by D. Hinners
Patrol East Community Policing
350 S. Edgemoor, Wichita KS 67218
Last Updated April 28, 2008
Introductions
Officer Hinners returned to full duty at the first of the year. If you have any questions or problems please call me at The Patrol East Community Police Office at 688-9545 or e-mail me at dhinners@wichtia.gov.
35 Beat Team Memebers
1st Shift: Officers Lemons and Boucard 07:00-5:00 p.m.
2nd Shift: Officers Cox and Zerr 11:00-09:00 p.m.
3rd Shift: Officers West and Nguyen 05:00 p.m. to 03:00 a.m.
4th Shift: Officers Woodard and Shorb 09:00 p.m. to 07:00 a.m.
School Resource South East High School: Officer Rodgers, Monday-Friday 07:00 to 03:00pm
School Resource Curtis Middle School: Officer Miller, Monday-Friday 07:00 to 03:00pm
SCAT Officer: Officer Maben : 05:00p.m. to 03:00am
IDENTITY THEFT
What are the steps I should take if I'm a victim of identity theft?
If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. When you correct your credit report, use an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter explaining your request, to get the fastest and most complete results.
Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions.
Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.
3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.
4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft. Ask them if you can file the report in person. If you cannot, ask if you can file a report over the Internet or telephone. See below for information about Automated Reports.
If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incident" report.
Graffiti Problems
35 Beat has seen a recent increase in graffiti around the area of Lincoln and Edgemoor. This is not the only area where we have seen graffiti but this seems to be the area most hit by taggers. The Wichita Police Department takes graffiti as a serious problem and needs your help to solve the problem. If you are aware of anyone who is doing the graffiti please call Patrol East at 688-9300 to report it. You do not need to leave your name or phone number if you do not want to be contacted. If you see any suspicious activity or someone spray painting a building or fence please call 911 immediately.
GANG AWARENESS
Do you know if your child is involved with gang activity?
Do you know what to look for to help identify gang membership or association?
What are gang colors and gang signs?
Colors refers to a gang member representing his/her membership by wearing a specific gang logo, particular colors of clothing, a specific brand name of clothing or clothing worn in a predefined manner. This may also include hairstyles, jewelry, or even the way a person stands, walks or folds arms and hands. Colors identify the gang member and show member pride and affiliation.
Hand signals and gang slang are a means of communication. Symbols formed and flashed with the fingers, hands, and body have very specific meaning to the gang. The same goes for buzz words or phrases. Remember all of these may be area or geographic region specific and meanings may vary.
Why do gangs use graffiti and what does it mean?
As gang activity increases so does their graffiti. Graffiti has been called the "newspaper of the streets." Each gang has its unique symbols and cryptic types of writing. Graffiti is not artwork; it is sophisticated communication that publicizes the gang's power, status, delineates territory, sends messages, and warns intruders. Graffiti upside down or crossed out is generally a 'put down' or threat to a rival gang or person. 'Death warrants' for police officers are known to have been posted with graffiti.
What are some typical pre-gang behaviors?
Gang involvement does not happen overnight. It is a gradual process and if you are alert you will see the signs.
· Poor progress or achievement in school.
· Truancy from school.
· Lack of hobbies or too much leisure time.
· Frequent contact with authority figures or police.
· Draws gang insignias/symbols.
· Problems at home.
· Lives in neighborhood where a gang exists.
· Friends are gang members or "dressing down" of “sagging and bagging" in gang attire.
These items are characteristic of gang involvement. However, some people who join or associate with gangs do not dress in the traditional attire and do not exhibit conspicuous behavior to show gang involvement. Parents must be aware of the behavior and activities of their children. Continual monitoring of behavior and positive verbal communication between parents and young people is a must for gang membership prevention.
How do you deal with gangs?
· Be decisive, firm, and fair. Lenient treatment is viewed as weakness and they will take advantage of you.
· Intimidation will not work; it will most likely lead to confrontation. Lectures do not work either. Gang members are looking for respect.
· Giving any public or media attention to a gang only feeds their egos and escalates gang activity.
· It is bad news to negotiate with terrorist or criminals so don't do it with gangs or their members. All it does is give them more recognition and power.
· Remember the four “R’s” about graffiti: Read, Record, Report, Remove.
· Prevent conflict whenever possible and look for common ground.
What can parents do?
· Know your children's friends.
· Know about who and what influences your kids.
· Know what your children are doing at all times.
· Become involved with them and occupy their time.
· Strive for good communication between you and your youngsters.
· Again, spend time with them.
· Do not allow gang dress or attire.
· Do not allow hanging in the streets or mall.
· Be very suspicious of gang writing, graffiti, or tattoos.
· Encourage anti-gang attitudes at home.
· Learn about gangs and drugs.
· Participate in your child's education and find out what's happening at school.
· Get involved in community affairs.
· Set the example for your kids, they will do what you do.
· Believe in your young kids.
What are some parental strategies to combat gangs?
· More recreational and leisure-time activities for youngsters.
· A crackdown and tougher law enforcement against gang activities in the community.
· Stepped up effort to dry up the chief source of gang money and DRUGS.
· Increased parental supervision of children, their activities, and their friends.
· Collaborative efforts between police, community residents, and young people.
What are some community anti-gang strategies?
· Build methods of disseminating advice/information on dealing with gangs to youths and parents.
· Enact ordinances for school board, city, and state that make it a felony for gangs to recruit in school or intimidate youngsters to join a gang.
· Support initiatives that provide for a rich assortment of extracurricular programs for kids and the incentives for them to participate in them.
· Organize/support workshops on street gangs to be taught to parents, grandparents, and guardians of school-age children.
· Provide public seminars on “street gangs” throughout the year.
· Run media series on street gangs, stripping them of their mystique and exposing them for what they are.
· Encourage service clubs and church groups to sponsor a battery of community speak-outs during the year on street gangs, with the help of the police departments, courts, youth services agencies, correctional institutions, and schools.
· Organize a citizen patrol to patrol through their community and erase gang graffiti whenever it appears.