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39°
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NEWSROOM * CIRCULATION * ADVERTISING
Sunday
March 2010
21

The Greenfield Police Department will use this forum to share information relative to community service, community crime prevention and community safety issues. Sergeant Peter Regenfelder and other members of the Community Services Team will post regular updates and information of interest to Greenfield residents. Residents are welcome to submit questions via email. Members of the Community Services Team also can be reached through the Greenfield Police Department at 414-761-5300.
Last year the Greenfield Police Department 3rd shift officers initiated a Crime Prevention Program to help prevent car break-ins. The initiative involved officers on foot patrol checking parked vehicles in apartment complexes for valuables that could be the target for thefts. If an officer found valuables in a car, a letter was sent to the listed car owner explaing the initiative, the time and date the vehicle was checked, and a reminder to secure the valuables in a more secure area. Some of you may already know this because you received this letter.
This past year there has been a significant decrease in theft from vehicles in Greenfield and I believe this is in part due to the positive response from the citizens who received these letters. The reminder is simple: Keep your valuables where they cannot be seen from outside the vehicle and keep your vehicle locked.
Also, if you see someone looking in cars in the parking lot of your apartment complex - call the police. Even if you think it may be a police officer - call the police. Do not confront or scare off the suspect. Let us catch them.
Together we can stop these thefts from occuring.
The Greenfield Police Department is proud to offer Female Awareness and Survival Training (F.A.S.T.), a dynamic, practical self-defense program designed exclusively for women. FAST will teach women survival concepts as well as techniques to help avoid dangerous situations.
The course will include:
-Assault Prevention Presentation
-Self Defense Introduction
-Self Defense Legal Aspects
-Self Defense Practical Applications
A portion of this seminar has a physical defense component that the person attending MAY participate in. Participation is NOT mandatory and attendees can work at their own pace.
The class is being offered May 3rd and 4th from 6pm-8:30pm. You must be at least 17 years old to participate. Applications are available at the Greenfield Police Department. For further information contact Lt. Jay Johnson at 414-761-5378 or jay.johnson@gfpd.org
We have all heard the Knock Knock jokes but the knock knock at your door might not be funny. The Milwaukee County area has had a rash of incidences in which home visitors are not who they claim to be. The visitors have claimed to be police officers, cable repairmen, utilities workers, and home inspectors. The ploy is to get into your home to steal from you. They may be working with other people or alone and want to distract you long enough to get at your valuables.
Whenever you have unsolicited visitors at your door, ask who it is prior to opening the door. If it is someone you do not want at your residence ask them to leave without opening the door. If they persist; CALL THE POLICE! If you determine the visitors may have a legitimate purpose for being there, ask for identification. This may seem like an uncomfortable request but legitimate visitors will have identification and have been asked for it many times in the past. If someone is hesitant to show identification; DON'T LET THEM IN and call the police! If you receive identification and you still feel uncomfortable then have the visitor wait outside and call the company that supposedly sent the visitor. I recommend finding the number in the phone book as opposed to the number on the identification card. The number on the identification may not be legit. If the company has not sent the visitor; CALL THE POLICE! If you are getting flustered and the visitor is pressuring you to let them in, CALL THE POLICE!
What might seem like an inhospitable manner to greet visitors may help keep you and your property safe.
Several important changes to Wisconsin traffic laws went into effect on January 1, 2010.
Making a u-turn at a controlled intersection is now LEGAL in Wisconsin.
· Beginning 1/1/2010, Wisconsin Act 97 permits U-turns at controlled intersections UNLESS signs are installed to indicate the maneuver is prohibited.
· U-turns must be made from the leftmost turn lane in the same fashion as a conventional left turn. Vehicles on the intersecting street attempting to turn right-on-red must yield to the U-turning vehicle.
· No backing is permitted as part of the U-turn, so drivers will have to be familiar with their vehicle’s turning radius. U-turns will are prohibited on curves and hillcrests where visibility is less than 500 feet.
Passing a turning vehicle on the left is legal on the PAVED shoulder.
· This does NOT mean that a driver can pass a slower-moving vehicle on the right using the shoulder – the vehicle being passed MUST be making a left turn.
· Also, the vehicle making the pass on the right MUST keep all four wheels on the pavement or paved shoulder.
Effective June 1, 2010, Vehicle owners or operators are required to have liability insurance and are required to carry proof of insurance in the vehicle.
· Failure to carry insurance may incur a $500 fine.
No person may operate a vehicle unless they have in their possession, proof that the vehicle is insured.
Deputy Inspector Bradley Wentlandt
Greenfield Police Department
Well, there is one more holiday left for 2009. New Years Eve. A time to reflect on the past year and a time to make plans for the coming year. New Years Eve is also a big night for police departments across the nation. It is the night when many drunk driving arrests are made.
With all the publicity regarding drunk driving in Wisconsin I am going to keep this message short. If you are drinking you should not be driving. If you are sober and driving, be especially careful and wary of the drunk driver that may be on the road. If you are following a vehicle and you suspect the driver is intoxicated then call the police so that we can get that driver off the road.
Make sure your new year does not start with a drunk driving arrest. Drive sober; drive safe; and have a happy new year!
A few quick holiday safety tips.
If you are traveling this holiday, try and make your house look occupied while you are gone. With many presents left in homes, burglars are looking for homes that do not look occupied to ransack. Use timers for your lights, have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers, and have a neighbor shovel your driveway if it snows. Always keep the exterior of your house well lit during the hours of darkness.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle where they can be easily seen from outside the vehicle. This is just an invitation to have those items stolen. If you have to keep valuables in your vehicle then lock them in your trunk . GPS units are very popular gifts and are very cool to use but they are also stolen regularly because people leave them in their vehicles.
Keep your car doors locked when you are not in it. We take many complaints of stolen property from vehicles that were not locked. Many of these thefts occur in people's driveways and parking lots. Thieves are less likely to break a vehicle window to steal items when there is an unlocked vehicle at the same location. Also, breaking windows creates noise that might be heard by honest people in the area.
Follow these easy safety rules and have a safe and joyous holiday!
The holidays are coming up so I thought it was a good time to re-issue some previous blogs.
The holiday season is coming up and the purse snatchers are already hard at work. This is a group of people I would really like to see unemployed! They are ruthless and mean! With your help, we can minimize the damage they do.
If possible ladies, leave your purse at home. If it’s not with you it cannot be taken from you. When you leave the house take what you need with you and put it in your pockets. A driver’s license, credit card, cash, keys and cell phone will fit in pants or jacket pockets.
If you feel the need to carry a purse, minimize the valuables in it. Don’t carry large sums of cash and take only the credit cards you need. When thieves steal purses they are looking for these two items. Cash can be saved and spent at leisure but credit cards get used quickly and for large purchases. This creates a financial nightmare for the victim. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Do not rely on your shoulder strap to keep your purse near you. Use a purse with a short handle and keep your purse in your hand.
Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to who is near you and who is taking a particular interest in you and your purse. If someone is making you uncomfortable and seems too interested in what you are doing, move away from them and keep your purse close. If this persists, tell a security guard or police officer. When driving home, pay attention to vehicles behind you as well as in front of you. There are thieves that will follow a victim home and steal from them when they get into their garage. If you feel you are being followed call the police or drive to your local police station. If you are not sure where that is, drive to a gas station and use a phone there. Gas stations usually have video surveillance and usually have a teller paying attention to the pumps.
If you plan your shopping adventure and only take what you need, you will minimize the chances of becoming a victim of a purse snatching.
It’s back to school time. Parents are cheering, kids are griping, and the Greenfield Police are going to help get those kids to school in a safe manner. It’s time to give yourself a little extra time to get to work because of school busses, school crossings, and school zone speed limits.
Remember:
-School zone speed is 15mph
-Pedestrians have the right of way if they are in the crosswalk, especially if being escorted by a crossing guard
-You must stop 20ft from the front and rear of a stopped school bus displaying its’ flashing red lights and you may not proceed until the flashing red lights have stopped. If it is a divided highway, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus do not have to stop.
Violations of these laws can not only be costly but can injure or kill. Every year kids are injured or killed by violators of these laws when they are trying to get to or from school. Let’s keep our kids and roads safe by following the laws and being attentive drivers.
The Greenfield Police Department will again be celebrating the National Night Out at Konkel Park on August 4th from 5:30pm - 8:00pm. This is a great opportunity for the Greenfield community to gather for fun, food, and crime prevention information. Through our dedicated sponsors, we will be providing brats, hotdogs, chips, and soft drinks. The fun will include a dunk tank, inflatable rides, the klements racing sausages, a rock climbing wall, and a K9 demonstration. Gather up the kids, grandma, grampa, aunts and uncles and join us!
A friendly reminder to the citizens of Greenfield and guests; fireworks are not allowed in the city. This means possessing or igniting such items. Fireworks means anything that pops, sparkles or smokes. While these items may be fun for some, they are also dangerous and a nusiance to others. The Greenfield Police will be vigilant in enforcing municipal code 10.03 which defines the fireworks regulations. Our goal is to help ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all the citizens.
Detective Sergeant Patrick recently sent me the following information to share. Do not get caught up in these scams! When something seems to good to be true it usually is. Scammers prey on peoples good nature and their greed. Don't be a victim.
Recently a few Greenfield residents have been swindled out of thousands of dollars. Most of these victims lost their money by “wiring” money to Canada in various scams. If someone is attempting to wire a large amount of money to Canada, please provide them with this information sheet before completing the transfer. If they have any questions, they can call the Greenfield Police Department at 414-761-5300. Secret ShoppersThis is an employment scam. This scam touts the ease of work, short hours and the money to be made from merely visiting stores each day to make purchases. Victims are told that they will be working on behalf of a variety of retailers. Often, the new employer will “accidentally” mail a check made out for the wrong amount and ask the victim to return the difference. Prize PitchA consumer may come in contact with a prize pitch scam by e-mail, telephone or mail. This scam is usually a prize notification. The consumer is led to believe that to be able to receive or collect the winnings; they must pay a series of taxes and fees. It is important for all consumers to know that if they do win a legitimate prize, there are no taxes or fees to be paid in order to receive a prize in Canada or the United States.West African LettersThe West African letter scams are letters sent to individuals or businesses requesting assistance with foreign money transfers in exchange for a percentage of the transfer amount. These letters may be received by e-mail, mail or fax transmission. They emphasize that trust and honesty are important aspects in this confidential business transaction. The writer will often present himself as a doctor, a representative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or as someone in the Nigerian or some other African national government or military. Counterfeit ChecksCounterfeit checks are either altered or fabricated. They are commonly associated with the "too good to be true" scenarios. In a typical scenario, in exchange for goods or services, the potential victim is offered a check that the buyer supposedly already has in his/her possession. The amount of the check will be more than is owed, and the potential victim is asked to take the counterfeit check and reimburse the difference. This fraud capitalizes on check processing delays. The bank will hold the victim responsible for the counterfeit check. Never accept a check larger than the transaction value and always wait for the check to be fully cleared before delivering the goods or services. If it sounds too good to be true, it simply is. Helping family membersIn this scam, the victims (who are most often very elderly) receive a telephone call from a person acting as a grandson, granddaughter or other family member. The caller advises that they were involved in an accident or were injured and need cash wired for medical expenses or to pay for damaged vehicles.The Greenfield Police Department is going to implement an emergency alert program that will alert the citizens of Greenfield of emergency information via the telephone. The service is called Connect-Cty or what might be known as “reverse 911”. The service “allows authorized government officials to create and distribute public information quickly and efficiently to the citizens, and employees, of the City of Greenfield. The system can be used to send emergency or non-emergency messages within the City government or externally to local businesses and households.” The messages will be sent as a recorded message via the telephone. Some school districts are already using this system to disseminate school information. Examples of it’s use could be “public notification in the event of a man-made or natural disaster such as a chemical spill or other catastrophic event; or distribution of public information that may be critical in the event of a local emergency situation such as a missing child or elderly person.
For more information and sign up options please visit our website at www.greenfieldpolice.org
Just another way the Greenfield Police Department is reaching out to its’ citizens in helping to make a safe community!
In my 10 years of service as a Police Officer I have heard many citizens question the behavior of police officers. Examples of this are, "I told the officer I was sorry and offered to shake his hand. He refused to shake my hand. How inconsiderate!" or, "I got out of my car like he asked and it was cold outside. I put my hands in my pockets and he kept telling me I had to keep my hands out of my pockets. I think he just wanted me to be cold!" These and many other actions by the police may seem inconsiderate and impolite on the surface but officers respond in this manner based on their training and experiences as Law Enforcement Officers.
To help the citizens of Greenfield and people who are employed in the city of Greenfield better understand the "how's and why" of law enforcement, the Greenfield Police Department is offering a Citizen's Academy. This is a 9 week program that will give participants a first hand view of our department. A wide variety of topics will be discussed, from an introduction to the police department to understanding patrol procedures, state statutes and traffic law, officer survival and use of force, criminal investigation, evidence collection, crime prevention, and police officer requirements to mention a few.
Any adult that is a Greenfield resident or is employed in the city of Greenfield may apply to attend this academy. Applicants must completely fill out an application which can be obtained from the Law Enforcement Center or downloaded from the police department's web site. ( http://www.greenfieldpolice.org/Community/Citizen_Academy/citizen_academy.html )
This third session is scheduled to begin Thursday March 12, 2009. The class will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Greenfield Law Enforcement Center. Class size will be limited so get your applications in early! If you have questions regarding this academy contact Captain Schlecht at 761-5300 or stop in at the Law Enforcement Center for brochures and applications.
WHAT A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!!!!
As you may already know, yesterday we honored a Milwaukee Police Officer who was a witness to an armed robbery while off duty. His actions and descriptions of the suspects led the Greenfield Police to a speedy arrest of all the suspects. A few days later, a resident called the Greenfield Police Department stating that he observed a person enter his neighbor's vehicle. He was able to give a suspect description and the suspects direction of travel which led the responding officers to an immediate arrest of a suspect that had been entering cars and stealing from them. Being a supervisor and a trainer for the Greenfield Police Department I would like to say that it was the training and top quality officers that led to these arrests but the key to both successes was the response of both witnesses.
There are a few simple guidelines to follow when being a good witness.
1) Call the police as soon as you suspect a crime is occuring.
All to often when well intentioned citizens see a possible crime occuring they try to stop the crime and chase off the suspect. This allows the suspect to get away, makes for a delayed response by the police, and can end in witness injuries.
2) Maintain a visual contact from a position of safety.
If you are calling from inside your residence stay inside, turn off any lights on in the room, and observe the suspect while talking to the dispatchers. They will be sending squad cars to your location as they speak to you.
3) Try to observe details.
The dispatchers will help you with this. Try to observe the sex, race, height, weight, and clothing of the suspect. For vehicles note the license plate letters and numbers, color, style of vehicle and number of occupants. Orient yourself to direction so you can tell the dispatcher the direction of travel for the suspect or suspect vehicle.
4) Never put yourself in harms way.
Remember that the police are equiped and trained to handle criminal activity. They have legal priveledges granted to them for apprehending criminals that the general public does not have. Let them handle the apprehension.
By following these simple guidelines you can help eliminate crime from your community.
The holidays are coming up so I thought it was a good time to re-issue some previous blogs.
The holiday season is coming up and the purse snatchers are already hard at work. This is a group of people I would really like to see unemployed! They are ruthless and mean! With your help, we can minimize the damage they do.
If possible ladies, leave your purse at home. If it’s not with you it cannot be taken from you. When you leave the house take what you need with you and put it in your pockets. A driver’s license, credit card, cash, keys and cell phone will fit in pants or jacket pockets.
If you feel the need to carry a purse, minimize the valuables in it. Don’t carry large sums of cash and take only the credit cards you need. When thieves steal purses they are looking for these two items. Cash can be saved and spent at leisure but credit cards get used quickly and for large purchases. This creates a financial nightmare for the victim. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Do not rely on your shoulder strap to keep your purse near you. Use a purse with a short handle and keep your purse in your hand.
Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to who is near you and who is taking a particular interest in you and your purse. If someone is making you uncomfortable and seems too interested in what you are doing, move away from them and keep your purse close. If this persists, tell a security guard or police officer. When driving home, pay attention to vehicles behind you as well as in front of you. There are thieves that will follow a victim home and steal from them when they get into their garage. If you feel you are being followed call the police or drive to your local police station. If you are not sure where that is, drive to a gas station and use a phone there. Gas stations usually have video surveillance and usually have a teller paying attention to the pumps.
If you plan your shopping adventure and only take what you need, you will minimize the chances of becoming a victim of a purse snatching.
October is the National Crime Prevention month. A celebration of safety. Please review the safety tips that I have given over the past several years. All the advise is still applicable. I would also encourage you to peruse the National Crime Prevention Council web site at www.ncpc.org. There is a lot of crime prevention information there. Please direct any crime prevention questions for the Greenfield Police Department to me through this blog or directly to Peter.Regenfelder@GFPD.Org. This month also includes Holloween. In keeping Halloween safe for our youngsters parents should follow the safety guidelines at www.trickortreatsafety.com. If your neighborhood is having a special Halloween activity and you would like the Greenfield Police Department involved, I again encourage you to contact me so I can supply handouts, trinkets, bicycle patrol officers, or even McGruff the Crime Dog.
Let's celebrate crime prevention this month but try to prevent crime year round!
The following scam comes from the state crime summary:
Con Scheme Targets Seniors
AnchorBank recently received several reports from older customers that attempts were made to con them out of significant amounts of money. The caller poses as a relative in trouble, often stranded in some way. They claim to be in desperate need of immediate funds. The caller then convinces the customer to withdraw cash and wire funds via Western Union, usually out of the country. In the example detailed below, an AnchorBank customer lost over $20,000 to this con scheme earlier this week.
A caller posing as the customer's grandson called them in a desperate situation. He claimed to have gotten his girlfriend pregnant. They went to Canada to get a discrete abortion, and the "insurance company" was holding their passportsuntil they paid $5,000 cash for the high-priced procedure. After some further conversation, the grandparents were convinced and withdrew cash from the bank. They were questioned by the branch staff, but they were adamant that the caller was truly their grandson and that he was in serious trouble. They insisted on the funds. Later that day, their "grandson" called again, saying that the "insurance company" was requiring more money. They wired another $5,000 to Canada. Two more desperate phone calls later and they had been conned out of more than $20,000. The imposter had also promised to wire some of the money back to them when he got home, and convinced them to relinquish their account information as well.
A common question asked about this scheme is: "How did they get the name of the grandson?" While there are several possibilities, in the most likely scenario, the victim accidentally reveals that information during the first call. The scammer might begin the call with, "Hi, it's me." To which she may reply, "David, is that you?" Then the scammer has the necessary information to continue. If she asks who is calling, the scammer hangs up and tries another number. Obviously, even if they have to try 50 numbers to find their mark, this scheme can be very lucrative.
If you receive a call like this, DO NOT give out personal information or financial information. Call the Police Department and contact your relative directly.
In my 10 years of service as a Police Officer I have heard many citizens question the behavior of police officers. Examples of this are, "I told the officer I was sorry and offered to shake his hand. He refused to shake my hand. How inconsiderate!" or, "I got out of my car like he asked and it was cold outside. I put my hands in my pockets and he kept telling me I had to keep my hands out of my pockets. I think he just wanted me to be cold!" These and many other actions by the police may seem inconsiderate and impolite on the surface but officers respond in this manner based on their training and experiences as Law Enforcement Officers.
To help the citizens of Greenfield and people who are employed in the city of Greenfield better understand the "how's and why" of law enforcement, the Greenfield Police Department is offering a Citizen's Academy. This is a 9 week program that will give participants a first hand view of our department. A wide variety of topics will be discussed, from an introduction to the police department to understanding patrol procedures, state statutes and traffic law, officer survival and use of force, criminal investigation, evidence collection, crime prevention, and police officer requirements to mention a few.
Any adult that is a Greenfield resident or is employed in the city of Greenfield may apply to attend this academy. Applicants must completely fill out an application which can be obtained from the Law Enforcement Center or downloaded from the police department's web site. ( http://www.greenfieldpolice.org/Community/Citizen_Academy/citizen_academy.html )
The first session is scheduled to begin Thursday September 11, 2008. The class will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Greenfield Law Enforcement Center. Class size will be limited so get your applications in early! If you have questions regarding this academy contact Captain Schlecht at 761-5300 or stop in at the Law Enforcement Center for brochures and applications.
WHAT A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!!!!
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