38 Beat Web Page
Last Updated: Febuary 10th, 2010
It's the start of a New Year! Currently crime is down, and I can say that for January 2010 there was NO HOT SPOTS on the entire EAST SIDE!
However, we do not want you to let your guard down! Please keep in mind that when the weather starts to warm up, we typically see an increase in activity. Please continue to be watchful in your neighborhoods!
Crime Stoppers has added some additional ways for you to report crime, and remain anonymous. See the Crime Stopper Neighborhood Initiative below.
If you have any questions please contact me Officer West at 350-3420 or email me at
rwest@wichita.gov
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38 Beat Activity
Well, I can say I'm pleased with the decreased crime activity we are having on 38 beat!
However we do NOT want to let our guard down. We have had a only a few burglaries on 38 beat, so far. Keep in mind as the temperture starts to increase so will crime.
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Crime Stoppers
Neighborhood Initiative
• The Crime Stoppers Neighborhood Initiative is a project designed to encourage citizens
to report crime and criminal activity around neighborhood drug houses. Citizens are
also encouraged to report all suspicious activity regardless where it occurs.
•
The initiative is not meant to replace citizens reporting of criminal activity to their
community police officer or City Hall neighborhood assistant. Rather, the project is
designed to give citizens an anonymous alternative to report drug houses or other
crimes in their neighborhood should they choose to do so.
•
Crime Stoppers encourages citizens to get to know their beat and community police
officers who can assist them in many ways. These officers have a broad perspective of
activities taking place in the neighborhoods the patrol and can be a valuable resource.
•
In addition, Crime Stoppers encourages citizens to develop a working relationship with
the neighborhood assistant in their city council district. These City employees can
answer questions about many city services, and are can assist citizens in many ways.
•
Crime Stoppers has expanded the way it now receives anonymous tips from citizens.
o
Citizens can still report criminal activity anonymously by calling 267‐2111.
o
Citizens living outside of Wichita can report criminal activity anonymously by
calling 1
‐800‐222‐TIPS
o
Citizens can report criminal activity anonymously by sending a text message on
their cell phones to CRIMES (274637) and beginning their message with the word
TIP217. It’s a good idea to program this number into your cell phone address
book so it will be handy when you need it.
o
Citizens can also report criminal activity anonymously by going to the Crime
Stoppers website,
www.wsccs.com.
o
If citizens choose do to so, they can report criminal activity by going to the
Wichita Police Department website,
www.wichitapolice.com, going to the
Records Information link, and clicking on the link to
Report Suspicious Activity in
Your Neighborhood
.
o
All tips received by Crime Stoppers are anonymous and no one will ever ask
your name.
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GANG AWARENESS
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 pubiliizes the gangs power, status, delineates territory, sends messages, and warns intruders. Graffiti uspside 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.
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, and Remove.
Prevent conflict whenever possible and look for conmmon ground.
What are some community anit-gang stategies?
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 gangs.
Support initiatives that provide for a rich assortment of extracurricular programs for kids and the incentives for them to participate in them.
Organize/support workeshops on street gangs to be taught to parents, grandparents, and guardians of school-age children.
Proveide 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 department, courts, youth services agencies, correctional institutions, and schools.
Organize a chitizen patrol to patrol through their community and erase gang graffiti whenever it appears.
Gang Intelligence 268-4646
Gang/Felony Assault 268-4191
SCAT Hotline 267-SCAT
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BARKING DOG COMPLAINT PACKET
WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT
455 N. Main - Wichita, KS 67202
INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
The purpose of this packet is to assist you in getting your Barking Dog complaint resolved. Please review the steps and take the appropriate action based on your situation. Provided below is a space to record the case number you will receive during the complaint process.
MY WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE REPORT NUMBER IS: ____________________
Here is the ordinance: 6.04.040(d)(6)
It is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any animal which, by loud, frequent or habitual barking, howling, yelping or other noise or action, unreasonably disturbs any person or neighborhood within the corporate limits of the city. To effect legal relief, persons so affected directly may sign a complaint at the Department of Environmental Services.
A person violating any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.
STEP 1: MAKING A CASE
If you know the information below you may call your report in to the Wichita Police Department’s Case Desk at 268-4221. You will be provided with a case number during this process:
· First and Last Name of Defendant
· Date of Birth of Defendant
· Address of the Person Who Owns or Harbors the Dog/Animal
· Address of the Incident
· Date and Time of Incident
If you do not know the information above, call 911 and have an officer come out to make a report. To assist your case this should be done at the time of the incident so the officer can document what he/she observes while on scene in the report. The officer will attempt to make contact with the complaint address and provide the persons information in the report. Ensure you have the case number before the officer leaves. To follow up on your case or get a copy, contact the Wichita Police Records Department at 455 N. Main or by calling 268-4186.
When calling 911, dispatchers prioritize all calls based on their severity. The higher priority calls, such as major crimes in progress and active physical disturbances, take precedence. Also, you may experience a longer wait time depending on the day of the week and time of day. Please be patient, an officer will make contact with you.
STEP 2: SIGN COMPLAINT WITH ANIMAL SERVICES
Please allow three to five days for the report to be entered into the computer system prior to this next step.
It is advised to obtain a copy of the police report by contacting the Police Record’s Bureau at 268-4186.
Contact Animal Services at 3303 N. Hillside to sign an affidavit and swear to the facts of your report. Animal Services will provide you with a court date and location for your Environmental Court hearing. Please keep in mind that this date may change based on when the complaint is served to the defendant. It is strongly recommended that you confirm your court date with Animal Services to ensure the defendant has been served and that the court date is correct by calling 268-8378 Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 6:30pm.
During your meeting with Animal Services you may provide any witnesses to be subpoenaed to the hearing on your behalf. Witnesses can be a valuable asset to your case when all the judge has to go on is a 1 vs. 1 argument. It is possible that the barking dog is a neighborhood problem. Communicate with your neighbors, they may be able to support your claim.
Consider keeping a log of dates and times of incidents. A log has been provided in this packet on page #4. Video or audio recorded evidence may also support your complaint in court as well.
If you fail to attend court your complaint is dismissed and you may be charged with contempt of court.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
These types of complaints are very disruptive and aggravating to the neighborhoods they affect. Before the situation becomes a police matter, have you considered talking to the neighbor about the complaint? If your area has a neighborhood association or home owners association, maybe it can help resolve the issue as a mediator. If you decide to contact your neighbor, it is recommended that you talk calmly and civilly to prevent a disturbance, making the situation much worse.
METHODS & PRODUCTS
Court is not always the first step or the only way to address the problem of an excessively barking dog. If you feel that the situation could be better handled by talking with the owner about the issue, consider providing the following alternatives and information.
It is perfectly normal and reasonable for dogs to bark from time to time; however, continual barking for long periods of time is a sign that the dog has a problem that needs to be addressed. The first step the owner should do is to determine when and for how long the dog barks, and what is causing him to bark. If the owner works during the hours of the complaint, maybe he/she could use a recorder to see and or hear what the complaint is about.
The dog may be barking because he/she’s bored and lonely. Social Isolation, being frustration, and seeking attention can cause many types of behavior problems. Is he/she left alone for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction? Is his/her environment relatively barren, with-out playmates or toys? Here are some recommendations for the owner:
· Daily walks with your dog
· Play fetch
· Teach new commands or tricks and practice them every day
· Take an obedience class with your dog
· Provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy when you're not home
· Keep your dog inside when you're unable to supervise him
· If you work very long hours, consider doggie day care or have a friend walk or play with him
If the dog is exhibiting territorial or protective behavior, the owner can employ training that will still get the job done without being excessive. Here are some recommendations for the owner:
· Teach the dog a "quiet" command. When he begins to bark at a passer-by, allow two or three barks, then say "quiet" and interrupt his barking by shaking a can filled with pennies or squirting water at his mouth with a spray bottle or squirt gun. This will cause him to stop barking momentarily. While he's quiet, say "good quiet" and pop a tasty treat into his mouth. Remember, the loud noise or squirt isn't meant to punish him; rather it is to startle him into being quiet so he/she can quickly be rewarded.
· Desensitize the dog to the stimulus that triggers the barking. Teach him that the people he views as intruders are actually friends and that good things happen to him when these people are around. Ask someone to walk by your yard, starting far enough away so that your dog is not barking, then reward him for quiet behavior as he obeys a "sit" or "down" command.
There are a variety of products on the market to prevent dogs from barking excessively. Try visiting a pet store or searching the internet for all available options. Here are a few to help you get started:
· Shock Collar
· Anti-Bark Muzzle
· Ultra Sonic Sound Emitting Device
PHONE NUMBERS
Here are some phone numbers to assist you:
PATROL NORTH w 350-3400 PATROL EAST w 350-3420 PATROL SOUTH w 350-3440
PATROL WEST w 350-3460 ANIMAL CONTROL w 268-8378 RECORDS DEPARTMENT w 268-4186
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