ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

 Fighting Crime in your Community

Last month we talked about getting involved in crime prevention.  Crime can happen anywhere, at home, at the grocery store, visiting a friend or driving down the street.  First and foremost, we want you to be aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are.  When you are consciously paying attention to what is going on around you then you are more likely to see things that look out of place or that may be a danger.  You are also less likely to look like an easy target for criminals.

Now, what should you do if you see something suspicious or witness a crime?  Don’t ignore it.  If your instincts tell you something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.  Call the police and tell them what you see.  The non-emergency number for the Scottsdale Police Department is 480-312-5000.  This number is for reporting suspicious activity/persons and delayed crimes.  To report life threatening emergencies and crimes in progress call 9-1-1.  If it turns out the activity is legitimate, that’s fine and everyone will be on their way.  We’d rather check it out now than be sorry later that we didn’t catch a criminal. 
When you call the police, the dispatcher will ask you questions about what you see.  This information will help responding officers to know what is happening and what they should be looking for, especially if the person/vehicle leaves the scene before the officers arrive.  Most times, the officers will already be on their way while the dispatcher is gathering information from you and updating them.  Depending on the circumstances, the dispatcher may keep you on the phone until the officers arrive.  Staying on the line with the dispatcher does not delay their response.  It is important to answer their questions to the best of your ability and follow their directions.

Next, hone those observation skills and be a good witness.  Take a hard, overall look at the person/vehicle you will be describing.  Ideally, you would be in a safe, concealed place watching them while speaking with the dispatcher, but perhaps they have already left the scene by the time you are able to call.  Keep these things in mind, as the dispatcher may ask you: Do you know this person?  Why do they look suspicious?  What race are they? Are they male or female?  What age do they appear to be?  How tall are they?  How much do they weigh or what is their build?  What is their hair color/length/style?  What kind of clothing are they wearing?  Do they have any piercings/tattoos/scars?  Are they carrying anything?  Is there anything unusual about them that stands out?  A person can easily shed an outer shirt or jacket but it’s less likely a running suspect will change his shoes.  Did the person leave on foot or in a vehicle?  Which direction did they go?  What color was the car?  Do you know the make/model?  Did it have 2 doors or 4?  Were there any stickers/markings or damage on it?  One of the most important things is the license plate number and the state.  If the vehicle/plate is not stolen then it gives us a solid lead to start working. 

Police officers often use a technique called “commentary driving” to teach new recruits how to observe what’s going on around them while in the car.  They verbalize what they are seeing and what they are doing, much like the “I Spy” game we used to play as children.  It’s training your brain how to react to different situations it sees.  The more times we “experience” a situation, the more comfortable and confident we become in handling it.  The next time you are stopped at a red light, imagine a traffic accident happens in front of you.  Do you know where you are?  What would you do first?  Next?  Now one of the vehicles is leaving the scene.  Can you describe the car, the driver or the direction of travel?  Who else may be involved?  Could the woman in the orange sweater, standing on the corner, also be a witness?  You never know which little piece of information may be the critical one, so if you see it, don’t be afraid to say it!  The police need everyone’s eyes to help fight crime.   
 

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 

Christmas Tree Roundup - Scottsdale’s citywide Christmas Tree Roundup starts Monday, January 23rd, and runs through January 27th.  If you have residential collection service, please have your Christmas tree curbside by 5 a.m. on the morning of Monday, January 23rd. Remove stands, lights and ornaments. Artificial trees will not be collected.   If you miss the roundup or don't have residential collection services, you can drop off your tree between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, January 28th, at Scottsdale Ranch Park, 10400 E. Via Linda, or Eldorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Road.  All trees collected will be turned into compost or mulch.  For additional information, please call (480) 312-5600.  

Waste Management Phoenix Open - January 30th through February 5th, 2012.  Gates open at 7 a.m.; Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, 17020 N. Hayden Road.  General Admission:  $25 (see website for more information)  The Waste Management Phoenix Open takes place January 30 through February 5, at the beautiful Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale.  Find out why this tournament boasts the largest galleries in golf and has earned the nickname "The Greatest Show on Grass." For more information visit: http://wastemanagementphoenixopen.com or call (602) 870-0163.

Parada del Sol Parade  - February 11th, 2012.  Take part in a Scottsdale tradition on Saturday, Feb. 11, when the Parada del Sol Parade unfolds along Scottsdale Road between Oak Street and Indian School Road. This “world’s largest horsedrawn parade” starts at 10 a.m. and features floats, horses, bands and tons of cowboy fun! More fun follows the parade in Old Town Scottsdale with the Trails End Celebration – dancing, entertainment and kids’ activities. Remember, Scottsdale Road, from Camelback to McDowell roads, will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more Parada activity details – including the Hashknife Pony Express arrival in town and the Rodeo – call the Jaycees at (480) 990-3179 or visit: http://paradadelsol.us.

 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 

From the Desk of
Commander 
Mike Rosenberger

Prepare Now for Peace of Mind Later - A family health and safety guide

Home fires are the most common disaster that the Red Cross responds to and also the most preventable.  Families need to take a few simple precautions to avoid tragedies, such as having working smoke alarms on every level of their homes and having family fire escape plans in place to help get everyone out of the house safely.  The American Red Cross recommends the following when creating your family escape plan:

•  Identify two ways to escape from every room in the home.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
• Select a safe location away from the home where your family can meet after escaping. 
• Consider purchasing and storing escape ladders for rooms above ground level and make sure to learn how to use them. 
• If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out.   
• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke.  
• Before escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it.  If it is warm, use your second escape route.   
• If smoke, heat or flames block both of your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed.  Place a rolled towel underneath the door.  Signal for help by waving a brightly colored cloth or shining a flashlight at the window.  If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and let them know your exact location inside the home.  
• Once you've escaped, stay out.

3 STEPS TO PREPAREDNESS
Get a kit. 
At a minimum, have the basic supplies listed below. Keep supplies in an easy¬ to ¬carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate.

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3 ¬day supply for evacuation, 2 ¬week supply for home)
• Food—non¬perishable, easy ¬to ¬prepare items (3¬day supply for evacuation, 2¬week supply for home)
• Flashlight 
• Battery¬ powered or hand¬ crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) 
• Extra batteries 
• First aid kit
• Medications (7 ¬day supply) and medical items 
• Multi¬purpose tool 
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items 
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) 
• Cell phone with chargers 
• Family and emergency contact information 
• Extra cash 
• Emergency blanket 
• Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers) 
• Games and activities for children 
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl) 
• Two-way radios 
• Extra set of car keys and house keys 
• Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:

• Whistle
• N95 or surgical masks 
• Matches 
• Rain gear 
• Towels 
• Work gloves 
• Tools/supplies for securing your home 
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes 
• Plastic sheeting 
• Duct tape 
• Scissors 
• Household liquid bleach 
• Entertainment items 
• Blankets or sleeping bags

Make a plan

• Meet with your family or household members.
• Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play. 
• Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team. 
• If a family member is in the military, plan how you would respond if they were deployed.

Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

• Choose two places to meet:
  • Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire
    o Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate
  • Choose an out¬ of¬ area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones.
    Plan what to do if you have to evacuate
  • Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there. You may choose to go to a hotel/motel, stay with friends or relatives in a safe location or go to an evacuation shelter if necessary. 
  • Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable. 
  • Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of pet friendly hotels/motels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

Be Informed
Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur in your area. These events can range from those affecting only you and your family, like a home fire or medical emergency, to those affecting your entire community, like an earthquake or flood.

• Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster and how you will get information, whether through local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio stations or channels.
• Know the difference between different weather alerts such as watches and warnings and what actions to take in each. 
• Know what actions to take to protect yourself during disasters that may occur in areas where you travel or have moved recently. For example, if you travel to a place where earthquakes are common and you are not familiar with them, make sure you know what to do to protect yourself should one occur. 
• When a major disaster occurs, your community can change in an instant. Loved ones may be hurt and emergency response is likely to be delayed. Make sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This training is useful in many emergency situations. 
• Share what you have learned with your family, household and neighbors and encourage them to be informed.

Emergency Contact Cards for All Household Members get your cards online at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/ECCard.pdf.

• Print one card for each family member.
• Write the contact information for each household member, such as work, school and cell phone numbers. 
• Fold the card so it fits in your pocket, wallet or purse. 
• Carry the card with you so it is available in the event of a disaster or other emergency.

Commander Mike Rosenberger 
(480) 312-8803
mrosenberger@scottsdaleaz.gov

 The Scottsdale Police Department
 Wants You!



The Scottsdale Police Department has excellent job opportunities in the following fields:
Police Officer, Police Aide, Communications, Detention Officers, Crime Lab, Records, and
Crime Scene Specialists. 

Visit our website at www.Scottsdalepd.com

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