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Apr-May-Jun 2019 Inside This Issue:

Cops Corner

Spring Safety Tips

New Communication Center

Important Contact Numbers

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Upcoming Captains’ Meetings

Police Headquarters Building 223 N. Memorial Drive Multi-Purpose Room*** (1st Floor) 7:00 PM

Upcoming dates; - April 2nd - May 7th - June 4th

*** Meeting location may be changed

Frist Responder Night at the Mavericks

IPD and IFD partnered with the Mavericks and non for

profit Answering the call to host First Responder night at

the Mavericks game on Feb 9th, 2019.

During the first intermission, IPD and IFD squared off in

an animated game of broomball that ended in a 2-1

victory for IPD who took home the golden broom and

dustpan for the second year in a row.

A percentage of the profits from the night went to

Answering the Call which was founded in 2015 to support

all First Responders in a time of need and was a strong

supporter of Officer Wagstaff and his family after his

injury. This group is not only a source of financial aid

but also community awareness for First Responders and

their families.

Cop’s Corner

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Spring is almost here. We need to be ready.

Always keep your home’s doors and windows locked when you leave your home, even if you leave for a short period.

Secure all lawn and gardening equipment in a locked shed or garage.

Take the time to secure your bicycles.

Keep your garage door closed and locked anytime you are not using them.

Install motion-activated lights in your front and back yards.

DO NOT allow solicitors into your home.

Be aware of home improvements scams. Some solicitors or contractors who offer to repair at a dis-counted fee may request cash up front.

Request identification from anyone claiming to represent a utility company. True representatives will carry identification and gladly show it upon request. If you are still in doubt, call the utility com-pany and verify their identity.

The City of Independence requires solicitors to obtain a city permit. The ordinance does not require any charitable, religious, educational, and non-profit organizations to obtain a permit.

Consider placing a “NO SOLICITORS” sign on your property, front door is usually the best placement.

Report suspicious activity to the police.

Do not allow mail or newspapers to build up in your mailbox or on the porch. Have trusted neighbor or family member gather your mail if you are leaving for an extended amount of time.

If you go on vacation, register your home with the Independence Police Department (816) 325-7300. Requested extra patrol while you are away.

Spring Crime Prevention Tips

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The new IPD Communications Center is on the grounds of the old MCI hospital. It is just south of the newly remodeled utilities building. It is 6000 square feet, houses 14 consoles, has a back up generator, training room, quiet room, full kitchen, two bath-rooms (one w/ shower), washer and dryer, and several supervisor offices. When fully staffed it can have 31 employees but currently has 17 employees.

The Communications Center cost $4.8 million and the cost was covered by public safe-ty sales tax and tax increment financing revenues.

There are currently 9 dispatch/call taking consoles set up with five more open for equipment to be added if needed. It was designed for future growth in mind where offices can be removed to double the floor space for more consoles over time.

In 2018 dispatch sent officers on 96,017 police incidents and fire fighters on 21,881 fire incidents. They answered a total of 338,498 phone calls in 2018, 204,657 on non-emergency lines and 133,841 on emergency lines.

State of the Art Communications Center Opens in 2018

Dispatch—Where it all begins

REMINDER: If you have not already done so, please register your Neighborhood Watch group for 2019. Each group must register every year to be credited as an official group. You can pickup the registration form and a Neighborhood Watch Program Guidebook at the Englewood Substation or I can email you a copy of each. (send me an email and I’ll send them). Please drop off your form at the Englewood Substation (1717 S. Appleton), or email it to us. Your form will be added to our records as an ACTIVE watch group. Re-member all because you have a Neighborhood Watch sign in your neighborhood, your group may not be ACTIVE!

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Independence Neighborhood Watch 1717 S. Appleton Avenue

Independence, MO 64052

Fax: 816-325-7647

Neighborhood Watch Program Coordinators

Officers Matt McLaughlin and Jodi Grooms

Phone: 816-325-7643 or 816-325-7647

E-Mail: mjmclaughlin@indepmo.org or

jgrooms@indepmo.org

www.indepmo.org/neighborhoodwatch

E-mail us your

crime prevention and

neighborhood watch articles

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www.facebook.com/ipdinfo

Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency/Information: 325-7300 Drug Activity: 325-6272 (NARC) Traffic Safety: 325-7290 Neighborhood Watch: 325-7643 Crime Prevention Officer: 325-7643 Public Information Officer: 325-7258 Hawthorne Place Apartments Officers: 257-7824 Independence Center Officers: 325-7876 Police K9 Unit: 325-7872

10 Action Principles of

Crime Prevention

Preventing crime is:

1. Everyone’s business

2. More than security

3. A responsibility of all levels and agencies of

government

4. Linked with solving social problems

5. Cost-effective

Preventing crime requires:

6. A central role in law enforcement

7. Cooperation and collaboration by all

elements of the community

8. Education

9. Tailoring to local needs and conditions

10. Continual testing and improvement

Important Telephone Numbers

If you are not on our E-mailing list, please email

jgrooms@indepmo.org and request to be added.

Don’t forget to REGISTER your

watch group for 2019

“Keeping President Harry S. Truman’s Hometown Safe”