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City police offer safety tips
By Denise Richardson ONEONTA: City police gave tips on staying safe as part of a seminar Wednesday, including urging the public not to hesitate to call them with an issue.
Whether it is at home, in public or online, they said, the most important step toward personal safety is to be cognizant of surroundings and people.
``The biggest thing is having a high sense of awareness,'' said Lt. Dennis Nayor.
About 15 residents attended the session in the Craven Lounge of the Morris Conference Center at the State University College at Oneonta, though 125 people could have been accommodated.
Police Chief Joseph Redmond, Sgt. Andrew Thomas and Nayor spoke and fielded questions for longer than the scheduled hour.
Pat Crowe, a resident of Myrtle Avenue, said she attended the seminar because she is concerned about her neighborhood and the city. Crowe said she wanted to know how to support neighborhood safety efforts, and she praised and thanked the department for answering and responding to her multiple calls about activities.
Police said residents shouldn't hesitate to call 432-1111 if they have a disturbance or crime to report.
``We don't mind coming out for noise complaints,'' Thomas said. Redmond said that when a patrol answers a call, the officer usually doesn't know who made the complaint.
``If it's disturbing you, call us,'' Redmond said. ``You don't have to give your name when you call.''
However, when dialing 911 in an emergency, callers should try to be calm, be prepared to give their location and stay on the telephone line.
Residents also are welcome to request that a police officer visit to offer suggestions about home security; that the department's speed trailer be parked in a neighborhood to monitor motorists' speed; or that a patrol car drive along a particular street.
Nayor said patrols drive on random routes, though they focus on downtown when bars are closing.
Thousands of calls to police each year
Redmond summarized criminal activity in the city and said most complaints are about criminal mischief. The department has 28 sworn officers and responds to 11,000 to 12,000 calls a year, of which 3,000 to 4,000 are criminal complaints, he said.
Police make about 2,000 arrests a year, Redmond said, and investigate about 500 motor-vehicle accidents.
Nayor said the three ingredients needed to make a crime are a perpetrator, a victim and an opportunity. If one of those elements is subtracted, a crime won't occur, he said. Preventive steps include personal safety precautions and removing opportunity, such as keeping valuables out of sight.
Nayor also urged residents to be ``good witnesses'' by noting car license-plate numbers and observing physical details about a suspect, such as height, hair color and clothing.
"Don't touch anything if you are a victim of a crime,'' he said, and if there is a break-in, let police look throughout the property.
Other comments Wednesday night included:
When a level 2 or 3 sex offender moves into an area, residents within two square blocks are notified, police said.
Advising people not to leave drinks unattended at bars or parties to prevent drug contamination.
Securing doors and windows after considering how you might break into your house, police said, and plan an exit route in case you realize an intruder is in your home. Most burglars don't want to break in when someone is home, they said. ``There is nothing in your house that is worth your life,'' Redmond said.
Lights activated by motion detectors and recordings of barking dogs are other safety features that can be installed.
For lock-out situations, leave spare keys with neighbors and/or move spare keys among different hiding places outside a home.
Don't give any personal information over the telephone or requests for money from unknown parties.
Monitoring computer use by children to prevent exposure to predators or obscene materials. Regarding the low attendance, Common Council Fourth Ward Alderman Michael Lynch said he would take responsibility for the scheduling of Wednesday's session.
Police said they are willing to give other seminars as requested. |
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