Last Updated: May 2009
EXCITING NEW PRORAM - "Citizen Alert"
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Ask a Cop
Is there a question you've always wanted to ask a police officer but haven't? Is there something going on in your neighborhood that effects your quality of life and you're not sure if it is illegal or a violation of city ordinance? You can ask me! I can post your questions and the answers here in case others are wondering the same thing. Contact me at 688-9300 or by email.
Example:
Q. Can my 16 year old get pulled over if he isn't wearing his seatbelt?
A. Yes. New state law went into effect that makes seatbelts a primary violation for persons in the car from 14 years old to 17 years old.
The Crime Trends
BUSINESS BURGLARIES
It's hard to make sure your business is safe when you're gone. Burglars take advantage of the fact no one is around. However, there are prevention measures you can take to reduce your risk and look less attractive to burglars:
Never leave cash in the registers
Always leave register drawers open to show it's not worth breaking in to your business
Ensure that your lighting, both inside and out, are in good working order
Special film for glass can be applied so as not to allow items to be thrown through it
Business Watch
Starting a business watch in your area can reduce your risks because you have more eyes watching out for your property when you aren't there. Call Officer Tennyson with the Community Affairs section to get information on Business Watch or to set up a FREE Security Survey to tell you what you're doing well and where you need help. The survey works and it's free!
Community Affairs 268-4101
IDENTITY THEFT
Thieves can obtain your information many ways, don't make it easier for them. Here are some general rules to reduce your risk of having your identity stolen:
Mail Theft
Always bring in your mail
Never use your mailbox for outgoing. That little red flag invites thieves right to your outgoing checks
Always hand deliver outgoing mail to your mail courier or use a drop box
Going on vacation? Have your mail and newspapers put on hold as not to advertise you're not at home
When discarding mail, shred anything with personal information on it. Criminals have no scruples about digging in the trash for your information
The Web
Always use trusted websites
Never reply to emails from strangers
If you get a phone call or an email from your credit card company stating your account has been breached, do not give out information they should already have. Call back to a number you know
Follow this simple rule, "If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is."
Set up a "Fraud Alert" through one of the credit reporting agencies:
Equifax
Experian
Transunion
For more information or if you have been a victim, check out these resources:
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Federal Trade Commission
US Secret Service
Department of Justice
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
American Express
Discover
MasterCard
Visa
Crime Awareness
When walking or jogging, be aware of your surrounds. Jog with a friend if at all possible. Avoid unlit streets, vacant lots, and unpopulated areas. Stick to well lit traveled areas like malls and businesses in your area. Wearing headphones can be a distraction and may cause you to let your guard down or prevent you from hearing traffic.
General Information
BARKING DOGS PROCEDURE
In accordance to Ordinance 6.04.040(d)(6), it is unlawful 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 thin the corporate limits of the city. To effect legal relief, persons so affected directly may sign a complaint at the Department of Environmental Services". To comply with the ordinance, the following information is needed to file a complaint at the Department of Environmental Services:
1. Name, date of birth, and address of the offending person who owns or harbors the dog/animal
2. Date and time when the offense (or incident) occurred
3. Location of the incident
If the citizen does not have the above information, they should call 911 and request that a police officer to come to their address to obtain the offender's information, they should call the Police Department Case Desk at 268-4221 to file a police incident report. The citizen should then allow three to five days for the incident to be entered into the computer system. After that time, the report should be available from the Police Department Central Records Bureau (268-4186). To file the complaint with the Department of Environmental Services:
1. Obtain a copy of the police incident case report by contacting the Police Record's Bureau at 268-4186.
2. Come to the Department of Environmental Services at 1900 E 9th to file the complaint.
3. Furnish a sworn affidavit for the incident. Environmental Services has notaries available for this purpose.
4. Sign a Universal Complaint Citation form (UCC) and have it notarized.
5. Furnish a list of witnesses to be subpoenaed and their current valid addresses. The list will always include the complainant and their current address, as well as any other witnesses, including the responding PD officer who made the incident report if applicable.
After the above steps, the complaint will be filed with the Municipal Court and entered as an unserved complaint, to be served by the Wichita Police Department Warrant Office and a court date will be assigned. Be advised that the citizen will be required to attend court on the dates subpoenaed. Failure to attend their court date(s) will result in dismissal of the complaint filed, and may result in the complaining citizen being charged with contempt of court.
PORTABLE BASKETBALL GOALS
Basketball is fun and a great source for exercise. However, the very popular portable basketball goals are being set up in neighborhoods adjacent to traffic ways causing a wide range of problems. First there is the safety aspect. Playing in the street is a dangerous practice and should be avoided altogether. Second, theses goals can become a nuisance problem for neighborhoods. Players not moving out of the way for vehicles in the roadway, loud players as well as loud music late at night, as well as blight issues can all hurt the morale and image for the neighborhood. For violations of basketball goals, please read the following:
1. Contact ANY city of Wichita employee and report the violation as well as the address to them.
2. The city employee will call or email Engineering Division's Linda Firsching at 268-4418, or lfirsching@wichita.gov with the address of the violation.
3. Linda Firsching will log the complaint in a database and assign to a sidewalk inspector who will verify the violation with a photograph.
4. Notifications will be provided to the residence and compliance checks will begin.
5. Continued violations will be subjected to fines and possibly removal of the goal by city employees.
If you are a parent responsible for one of these goals, please be responsible and assure that the basketball goal is not contributing to a dangerous environment or contributing to a nuisance problem. If you are a citizen that wants to report problems arising from a portable basketball goal, follow the steps above.
TOP 10 RESIDENTIAL PARKING VIOLATIONS
1. Park w/in 15ft of a fire hydrant- 11.52.020(7)
2. Park w/in 30ft of traffic sign- 11.52.202(10)
3.Park left wheel to curb- 11.52.040
4. Park w/in 8ft of private drive- 11.52020(5)
5. Park more than 12" from curb- 11.52.040
6. Parking on sidewalk- 11.52.020(8)
7. Inoperable vehicle on private property- 7.40.045
8. Parking on required side yard- 11.52.030(b)
9. Parking on unpaved surface- 11.52.030(c)
10. Parking on required front yard- 11.52.030(a)
Crime Prevention Tips:
There are several things that the citizens of Wichita can do to help protect themselves and prevent them from becoming victims of crime. Some of these are:
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Get to know your neighbors.
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If you observe suspicious activity or people call 911.
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Participate in activities in your area.
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Start and be apart of a Neighborhood Watch Program.
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If you need more information how to start a Neighborhood Watch, please contact me by phone or e-mail.
Let us know what is going on in your Neighborhood
You can help police make your neighborhood safer by immediately reporting incidents. Recently there has been a lot of activity that has occurred that has not been reported, or if it is reported, police are not informed in a timely manner. The police department relies heavily on you as the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. We read daily the reports of what has been reported over the phone by citizens and add to that what officers reports have been made in person. The real problem comes when no report is made over the phone and no one calls 911 to make a face to face report with an officer. Too often, a problem begins to grow, residents think or assume we have been told by someone, and in reality, we have not been informed. This creates an unnecessary delay and can at times be a big problem. To report an incident that is an emergency, in progress, or just occured, always call 911! Other reports can be made by Police Case Desk 268-4221 or by calling the East Patrol Station 688-9331.
Your Beat Officers:
1st Shift: Officers Shirkey/Robinson 07:00-5:00 p.m.
2nd Shift: Officer Boyd 11:00-09:00 p.m.
3rd Shift: Officer Johnson 05:00 p.m. to 03:00 a.m.
4th Shift: Officer Adams 09:00 p.m. to 07:00 a.m.
School Resource East High School: Officer Biagini, Monday-Friday 07:00 to 03:00pm
SCAT Officer: Officer Ohmart : 05:00p.m. to 03:00am
Traffic Officers:
1st shift- Officer Cathey
2nd shift-Officer Long
3rd shift-Officer Mattson
4th shift- Officer Jackson
For a free Home Security Survey:
Appointments can be made through Community Affairs at 268-4101.
ADDITIONAL CRIME SAFETY TIPS:
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Do not leave your vehicle doors unlocked.
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Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.
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Record all serial/model numbers from your personal property.
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Remember if you leave your vehicle unlocked and running while running inside somewhere you may get cited a ticket because it is against the law. You may leave your vehicle running if it is locked but, I suggest you don't do that. Your leaving your vehicle open for a thief to take off in it.
- Safety Tips:
Who is watching your house when you are gone? If you have a Neighborhood Watch established on your block, the chances are better that the police will get called when the burglars are looking for a home to break into.
GOING ON VACATION?
If you're going out of town and would like extra patrol around your home, Log into www.wichitapolice.gov and have the patrol officers in your area, monitor your house, while you are away.
Do you have a list of serial numbers of your property of items that are commonly pawned? Without a serial number or you marking your property with your drivers’ license number, being able to positively identify and return your recovered stolen property is difficult. Engraving tools can be borrowed from the Patrol East substation to mark your property.
If you see someone that appears out of place for the neighborhood, try to get a good description of them, the car and tag number and call 911. You would be surprised at the number of times neighbors witness their neighbors home being broken into, but don’t take the initiative to call 911. Burglary research shows properties within 400 yards of a home that have already been burgled, are at higher risk for up to two months after the intial incident.
By working together and building a partnership we can keep our neighborhood safe but everyone must do their part. If anyone has any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at the Patrol East substation, located at 350 S. Edgemoor, call me at 688-9300 or email me at jtryan@Wichita.gov
HELPFUL NUMBERS
Officer John Ryan: 688-9331
SCAT or Drug Complaints: 267-SCAT
Crime Stoppers: 267-2111
Warrant Office: 268 -4231
Community Affairs: 268-4101
Citizen’s Police Academy: 660-3810
Office of Central Inspections: (OCI) 268-4477
Health Department: 268-8351
Animal Control: 268-8473