Earlier this week, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) released Micro Community Policing Plans with the goal of addressing crimes of specific concern to each community. The plans are informed by SeaStat, a system launched in August 2014 to analyze real-time data and increase communication and cooperation throughout SPD.

The Micro Community Policing Plan for Ravenna-Bryant includes other neighborhoods including Roosevelt. Among identified community crime-related priorities are burglaries, drug use at Cowen Park, and traffic safety.

Burglaries: Among proposed solutions for reducing burglaries, the plan calls for the North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator to conduct more outreach and provide people with burglary prevention information.  Burglary prevention information is also available online.

Drug use at Cowen Park: Among proposals to reduce drug use at Cowen Park, the plan calls for more bike patrols and outreach to Roosevelt High School about students using drugs in the park during lunch break.

Traffic safety: The plan calls for additional outreach by the North Precinct Community Police Team and Crime Prevention Coordinator to educate people about pedestrian and bike safety. It also calls for working more closely with the community to identify places of particular concern and then requesting assistance from the Traffic Section of SPD to work in the areas.

The Ravenna-Bryant Community Association would like to hear from you: Does this plan reflect your neighborhood crime-related concerns? Leave a message in the comment section below. Or, better yet, have your concerns heard directly by SPD and attend RBCA’s May 5 annual meeting. It will start at 7:00 p.m. at Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center.

I. Special Presentation Speaker: Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent Seattle Parks. Superintendent Williams has been with Parks Dept for 20 years. Park land makes up 10% of Seattle’s land mass. There are 438 parks: 25% of residents live within 50 feet of a park, 13,000 homes are adjacent to parks, and 50% of Seattle’s trees are in parks. The department’s budget is $120 million. Volunteers contribute $350 million worth of labor in the parks. Parks continues to acquire property to make new parks, building a legacy for future generations.

Citizen perception of safety in parks is important. Safety principles include: Maintenance – clean and tidy parks are seen as safer; Positive activity – having play areas, things to do; Enforcement of rules – there are 68 rules on parks in RCW, and there is a code of conduct (see seattleparks.gov) that Parks Personnel enforce; Design – good lines of sight, trimmed shrubs, few places to hide

Citizen role in parks safety is to be vigilant: call 9-1-1 or non-emergency police number if you see bad behavior in a park.

II. Precinct Update: Lt. Ron Rasmussen provided an update on the recent spate of occupied residential burglaries. In late February to early March there have been numerous (13 as of March 7th) home invasions/burglaries while the residents, homeowners and children, are at home. All have been in the north end of Seattle; most have been in the middle of the night. Often a vehicle, as well as IPOD’s, IPHONE’s, jewelry, plasma TV’s, purses, wallets, checkbooks, laptops, car keys, etc. have been taken. Significant SPD resources have dedicated to this issue. To date, in ALL 13 cases, there has been no sign of forced entry. Access has been through unlocked doors and windows.

SPD’s advice is to BE WATCHFULL! If you see ANYTHING suspicious do not hesitate to CALL 9-1-1

Special Presentation Speaker: Detective David Dunn Puget Sound Financial Fraud and Identity Theft (GPS FFIT) Task Force Program. Detective Dunn has been with the Seattle Police Department since 2000 and spent 5 years on Patrol at North Precinct. At present, Detective Dunn is on loan to the Financial Fraud task force under the direction of the Secret Service working with a multi-jurisdictional team to thwart financial crimes. The two most common financial frauds are Check crimes involving theft of your bank account number & printing fake paper checks; and Electronic crimes where personal and business accounts are compromised from debit and credit cards. Credit card ‘skimming’ is done with fake card readers placed on gas pumps and ATM machines (especially “vestibule” bank ATM’s) along with pinhole cameras that capture your pin number. Detective Dunn highly recommends covering the key pad on the ATM machine when doing a transaction and checking your accounts online on a regular basis for fraudulent activity. Drive-through restaurants and other situations involving giving your debit card to someone else also increases your vulnerability to fraudulent access. Dunn suggested using a credit card for those situations and only using a debit card to withdraw cash.  Federal prosecutors are actively investigating organized crime rings from Russia, Ukraine and Romania who have compromised Point of Sales systems and used credit card numbers to extract funds from bank accounts. Small businesses should have insurance and take steps to safeguard point of sale systems from electronic hacking that can result in catastrophic losses to small businesses. Also check whether your business accounts have wire transfers enabled which have also been used in financial crimes.

Precinct Update: Lt. Ron Rasmussen/Sgt. Newsom Lt. Rasmussen reported that January crime rates were low due to inclement weather although auto theft, car prowls and residential burglaries are on the uptick. To secure your homes and cars, don’t hesitate to call 911 to report any suspicious circumstances.

Special Presentation Speaker: Sgt. Frank Trainor, North Precinct Anti-Crime Team (ACT). Trainor and his team of six have specialized training similar to a SWAT team. Their focus is on narcotics (e.g. drug houses), Vice (e.g. Prostitution), and demonstrations management (e.g. Occupy Seattle). A “Narcotics Activity Report ” taken from 911 calls and from online reports is forwarded to the Anti-Crime team.

Other news: Burglaries have been dropping off since the holidays. there were a string of robberies at Christmas time at the Northgate Mall parking area and near the Lake City Way Starbuck’s. After an arrest in Shoreline, the string of burglaries dropped off.

You can safely report crime tips through Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound without exposing your identity. The system is 100% anonymous – you NEVER have to give your name, whether via phone, internet or text message (texting is currently only available in King, Kitsap, Snohomish & Island Counties).  All major North American cell phone carriers are part of the program.

By Phone:

When you call in a tip no Caller ID is used. To phone in a tip via the SPD Tip Line, call 206.233.5000 or 911.  To phone in a tip via Crime Stoppers call 206.343.2020 or 800.222.TIPS or 800.CRIME.13.  Someone is available to take tips 24-hours a day.

Online:

The Crime Stoppers website is http://216.168.63.197/. 

When you send a tip via the internet no email address or IP address is traced.

Via Text Message:

Send your text message to 274637 (CRIMES).  Begin your message with the keyword Tip486 (not case sensitive) in the body of the message.  

Your initial submission will trigger an auto response from the secure transaction server.  You will receive a unique code number. REMEMBER THIS NUMBER AS IT CANNOT BE RETRIEVED LATER.  You can then engage in a two-way secured and encrypted text dialog with the Crime Stoppers coordinator.

Text STOP to the short code 27637 (CRIMES) at any time to reset the system.  Crime Stoppers will no longer be able to reply to you.  Note that if you want to continue your conversation with Crime Stoppers or if you forgot your code number, you must start the process over.

 Standard text rates may apply.

When you send a text message tip, secure and anonymous technology is utilized so your identity is never revealed.

For more information visit: http://smscrimetips.com/



If you see a crime in progress or need to report an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Special Presentation Speaker: Terrie Johnston, Crime Prevention Officer, SPD. Residential block watches, security reviews and neighborhood meetings have attracted a lot of attention. In her personal safety talks she has said: Keep your cell phones charged, in parking lots keep your keys handy, park in lighted areas and ask for assistance from security personnel if you have extra packages. At home, pick up papers and mail, don’t leave packages or catalogues outside, leave lights on and a radio playing when gone. Do not have decorations on the door that block your view through the peep-hole. Be sure you can see your car and house. Answer the door with out opening it. Talk through the door. On Face Book don’t tell the world you are going shopping and the hours you will be gone.

Watch for mail theft and UPS and other deliveries. Some people are following the trucks and wait, if no one answers the door, they take the packages. Have your computer and other electronics hidden from view from outside. Use your blinds and curtains. Cut up the cartons that the new TV set came in, don’t advertise what Santa brought. Parties, watch to see who arrives and that you know them, also have your valuables secured and medicines locked up. Coin collections, money, I Pads, check books, other valuables should be secured. After the party be sure all the windows are locked.

Street safety; put your wallet away at the counter, not as you are distracted by something or someone, have your cell phone handy, don’t text and not pay attention, wear low heeled shoes, not high heels. Travel light, no large handbags that hold more that you need where you can’t find your keys.

Using on-line shopping, look for the padlock icon and be aware of I.D. theft. (see www.ftc.gov)

If separated at the mall have a pre-planned meeting place. Know your friend’s full name, not nick name. Be aware of the people around you. Is the same person in the same shops you are and not buying anything? Use your remote to locate your car in a big lot.

This past year has been the highest in requests for security information in 23 years. Pay attention to barking dogs, lawn furniture close to the house, rocks and concrete blocks that are handy for breaking through doors and windows. Stay alert and be safe.

Marc Muntifering attends the monthly Seattle Police Department North Precinct Council meetings (every first Wednesday of the month).

You can find his meeting summaries on the new SPD North Precinct Advisory Council page.

Guest Speaker at this month’s meeting was Robert Montague, Manager of the Seattle 9-1-1 Call Center. Mr. Montague made several interesting and helpful points regarding 9-1-1 calls:

1. Most important when calling 9-1-1 is that you know the address you’re reporting from or with regards to – “Location, Location, Location”.

2. Particularly, if using a cell phone to call, you have to be able to explain exactly where you are.  (Only “Phase II” cell phones have GPS chips giving location.)

3. If you want to remain anonymous, you have the option of requesting “Do Not Disclose”. (Most anonymous 9-1-1 calls are related to parking complaints, domestic violence, etc. )

4. Every 9-1-1 call is recorded. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your 9-1-1 call or with the 9-1-1 operator, you can call back and speak with a supervisor.

5. 9-1-1 Operators are trained to handle every call as a potential triage situation and consequently may interrupt you in order to most expeditiously the pertinent information as soon as possible. “Let the Operator GUIDE the Call!”

Terrie Johnston, the Crime Prevention Coordinator for the SPD North Precinct , further suggested that it is always important and appropriate to call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious characters/strangers in your neighborhood and to try to report License Plate numbers whenever possible.

SPD North Precinct Advisory Council Meeting 2011–11-02

Guest Speaker at this month’s meeting was Robert Montague, Manager of the Seattle 9-1-1 Call Center. Mr. Montague made several interesting and helpful points regarding 9-1-1 calls:

1. Most important when calling 9-1-1 is that you know the address you’re reporting from or with regards to – “Location, Location, Location”.
2. Particularly, if using a cell phone to call, you have to be able to explain exactly where you are. (Only “Phase II” cell phones have GPS chips giving location.)
3. If you want to remain anonymous, you have the option of requesting “Do Not Disclose”. (Most anonymous 9-1-1 calls are related to parking complaints, domestic violence, etc. )
4. Every 9-1-1 call is recorded. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your 9-1-1 call or with the 9-1-1 operator, you can call back and speak with a supervisor.
5. 9-1-1 Operators are trained to handle every call as a potential triage situation and consequently may interrupt you in order to most expeditiously the pertinent information as soon as possible. “Let the Operator GUIDE the Call!”

Terrie Johnston, the Crime Prevention Coordinator for the SPD North Precinct, further suggested that it is always important and appropriate to call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious characters/strangers in your neighborhood and to try to report License Plate numbers whenever possible.

The Laurelhurst Blog has a post up about the Seattle Police Department’s new crime prevention coordinator (CPC) for the North Precinct, Terri Johnston.

Read the post here.

Previous to Terri, the North Precinct (Ballard to Lake Washington) was served by two CPCs, one of whom was Diane Horswill, who recently retired.

UPDATE: The Pinehurst Seattle blog also has a post up about the crime prevention coordinator positions, including the dates of a few SPD-related events (National Night Out, for example).

The worrisome element that both posts mention is that the CPC positions are funded by a grant that runs out at the end of 2011. After the grant runs out, the program will be eliminated.