ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

  “Fall” may finally be here,
but don’t “Fall” victim to crimes
that come with cooler temperatures
and the Holidays….
 

Although this is a topic we cover frequently, I thought a few points were worth repeating as the weather gets nice and the holidays approach:

• Keep doors and windows closed and locked when you are not home and while you are sleeping.
• Always keep your garage door closed.  Property crimes are known as crimes of opportunity.  Over 50% of burglaries in the city are unforced, meaning a door or window was left open or unlocked.  Make it more difficult for the bad guy to choose you for a victim.
• Please lock all gates providing access to your yard.
• When out in the community walking/running/exercising be aware of your surroundings.  There is strength in numbers, so try not to go alone and carry a cell phone.  Know where you are at all times.
• When out at night chose well lit locations with the most public activity.  Avoid shortcuts through alleys, remote areas or dark parking lots.
• Park under a light in parking lots and ask for an escort if you don’t feel safe.
• Report all suspicious activity to the police by calling 480-312-5000.  For emergencies always dial 911.  Trust your instinct; if it doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.
• If you leave town for the Thanksgiving holiday:
  • Utilize the Police Department’s “Vacation Watch” program by calling 480-312-5000
  • Have someone watch over your residence while you are gone to include picking up mail and door hangers.  Suspend your newspaper delivery.
  • Let trusted neighbors know you are going to be out of town and to report any suspicious activity around your home.
  • Leave lights and televisions and/or radios on timers to give the impression you are home.
• Start a Neighborhood Watch group on your street.  Call the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator at 480-312-2342.  Even if you don’t have an active NW group, take care of your neighbors by removing flyers from vacant houses and reporting activity that is “out of the norm” for your neighborhood.
• Call the Crime Prevention Officer in your area for a FREE home security survey
  • Officer Jen Wattier (McKellips to Osborn) 480-312-0275
  • Officer Kevin Watts (Osborn to McDonald) 480-312-2594
  • Officer Kory Sneed (McDonald to Cactus) 480-312-5696
  • Officer Jason Glenn (Cactus to City limits north) 480-312-8802

WANTED!
Golfers and Sponsors
for the 8th Annual CiPAAS Open

The 8th Annual CiPAAS Open is almost here and we need your help! We are still looking for golfers and sponsors to participate in the Citizen Police Academy Alumni of Scottsdale (CiPAAS) golf tournament on Saturday, November 12, at the Rio Verde Country Club. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Scottsdale Police Department Youth Activities Programs.

We need companies or organizations to help sponsor the tournament. Many different levels of contribution opportunities are available. We are also looking for donations of items or services from local businesses for our auction and raffle. If you are interested in helping to find sponsors or donations, please contact Larry Gress at 480- 607-3933 or lagress@aol.com.

And if you know any golfers, let them know about this opportunity! The entry fee for playing in the tournament is $100, which includes use of the practice range on the morning of the event, golf and cart, continental breakfast, lunch, and the chance to win great prizes! Player registration and continental breakfast begin at 7 a.m. The scramble tournament will commence with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. An auction, raffle, and awards luncheon will follow for all golfers. Tickets for those attending only the luncheon are available for $29 per person.

Registration forms for golfing are available at our website, www.cipaas.org. The Rio Verde Country Club is located at 18731 E. Four Peaks Blvd., Rio Verde, AZ, 85263. For more information about the tournament or how to volunteer, contact Sara Schnirring at 480-614-8929 or CiPAAS@hotmail.com.

Thanks for your help!

The CiPAAS Golf Committee 

Public Safety Community Contact Numbers
and E-mail Links

• Scottsdale Police Non-Emergency 480-312-5000
• Scottsdale Fire Department  480-312-8000 
• SPD Drug Enforcement Hotline - Suspected illegal activity, 480-312-TIPS (Hot lines are not monitored)
• SPD Traffic Enforcement Hotline - chronic traffic problems, 480-312-CARS
• Code Enforcement 480-312-2546
• Child Safety Seat Installation 480-312-BABY
• CPR/First Aid Classes 480-312-1817
• Lockbox for Seniors Program 877-229-5042   Flier

 The Scottsdale Police Department
 Wants You!

From the Desk of Commander Jeff Walther

This month I would like to share an article written by one of our own, Officer Art Vernon about Safeguarding Backflow Preventer Valves. 

Imagine you are a business owner and you arrive at your business on a Monday morning, ready for work.  You open the door, turn off the alarm, and then go to the lunch room to make a pot of coffee.  You turn on the tap at the sink and nothing comes out.  After a technician from the City Water Resources Department or a plumber comes out to your building, you learn that someone has stolen your building’s backflow preventer valve. This is a scenario that has recently played out dozens of times at businesses large and small throughout the Valley.

The latest target for metal thieves is a device called a backflow preventer valve.  This is a device that every commercial property is required by law to have.  It helps keep the public water supply free of pollution and contaminants.  The valves are generally located very close to the street and are easily accessible to metal thieves.  These thefts have cost Scottsdale businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses of the past couple of years.

Recently, the City of Scottsdale Water Resources Department Cross-Connection Control Program published a list of suggestions you and your business can follow to help make your business a harder target for metal thieves:

• Be aware of who should be working on your backflow assemblies. If you see suspicious activity, please call Scottsdale Police at 480-312-5000. It is also important to contact police to complete a report if your assembly was stolen. Your reporting will help prevent this type of property crime in the future.
• Consider installing well constructed cages with good locking mechanisms and strong padlocks.
• Paint the backflow assemblies and piping with a good epoxy type spray paint. The paint will make it less desirable to salvage.  The color should blend in with your property. Do not paint over serial numbers and name plates. This information is needed for identification by your assembly tester and the City of Scottsdale.

If the unfortunate does happen and you or your businesses are a victim of this type of crime, a new backflow assembly (usually of the same type) must be installed immediately. Please use a properly licensed contractor. The contractor must obtain a minimum plumbing permit to perform the work.  You should ensure the plumber contacts the Scottsdale Cross-Connection Control Program at 480-312-5668.

Commander Jeff Walther
(480) 312-2571
jwalther@scottsdaleaz.gov 

The FBI's Child ID App Putting
Safety in Your Hands

You're shopping at the mall with your children when one of them suddenly disappears. A quick search of the nearby area is unsuccessful. What do you do?

Now there's a free new tool from the FBI that can help. Our just launched Child ID app—the first mobile application created by the FBI—provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.

The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.

We encourage you to share the word about this app with family and friends, especially during upcoming activities in your communities to raise awareness on crime and drug prevention. For its part, the FBI is working to publicize the app with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)—its long-time partner in the National Child Identification Program, which provides a physical kit to gather your child’s pictures, fingerprints, personal characteristics, and even DNA to keep with you in case of emergency. The AFCA is producing a public service announcement about the app and will spread the word at various football games during the upcoming season.

Article from http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/
2011/august/child_080511/child_080511

Right now, the Child ID app is only available for use on iPhones and can only be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes, but we plan to expand this tool to other types of mobile devices in the near future. And we’ll be adding new features—including the ability to upload other photos stored on your smart phone—in the coming weeks and months.

The FBI's new Child ID app can be downloaded for free from the App Store on iTunes. 

Download App | View Gallery    

Podcast: About the Child ID App   

Upcoming Events

Public Safety Event – Police personnel from District 3 and 4, Scottsdale Fire Department personnel and Target Team Members will be partnering in the annual Target Public Safety Event.  The event will be held on Saturday November 5 at Target 15444 North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard from 0900-1200.  There will be free shredding, car seat inspections and various static displays and resource tables.  Click here to view flier.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day - Saturday, November 5th, 2011 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. City Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador; FREE Scottsdale residents only please. Click on the link for additional information: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Shredding Event – Wednesday December 14th, 2011 from 7:00 am – 11:00 am there will be shredding trucks at the Salt River Pavilions Plaza parking lot (9000 E. Indian Bend; by the old Best Buy) to conduct on-site shredding of personal documents.  Donations will be accepted by POSA for POSA Outreach.  Please contact Officer Kory Sneed at 480-312-5696 for more information. Click here to view flier. 

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