South Precinct Email Community Newsletter 6.22.07

Dear Community Friends,

Recent Arson Activity
On Thursday, June 14, 2007, South Seattle experienced several arson
incidents. At approximately 6:45 pm, fire was set to the Japanese
Presbyterian Church (1800 Block 24th Ave S). While Arson investigators were
at the scene, materials in a dumpster on the 1700 Block of 22nd Ave S. were
ignited. Approximately 10 minutes after that, a sofa was set ablaze behind
some businesses on the 2000 block of 21st Ave S. All of these incidents are
under investigation by Arson and Bomb Squad detectives; three people of
interest have been identified. Additionally, at about 10 pm Thursday night,
a home on the 1500 Block of 25th Ave S experienced a fire that appeared to
start in the basement portion of the home. Patrol officers did detain a
person of interest near the scene, but it cannot be proven that the house
fire was deliberately set, nor that it was related to the other fires that
occurred in the vicinity.

On Friday, June 15th, Arson and Bomb Squad detectives conducted a stake out
of the U-Haul location on the on the 2500 block of Rainier Ave S. For about
five weeks, this U-Haul location had experienced a number of car prowls,
thefts and small fires being set in the engine compartments of their
vehicles. As a result of the stakeout, the detectives arrested the
individual responsible. It has not been determined if this individual is
responsible for the arsons that occurred the previous day.

You may recall two arsons occurred early April 2007 in the Columbia
City/Hillman City area. These two arsons are still open investigations.

What You Can Do
Except for the house fire on the 1500 Block of 25th Ave S, all the fires
were started using available combustible materials present at the location
and were ignited with a hand held flame. To help prevent arson, we offer the
following tips from the Seattle Fire Department:
· Lock doors and windows of your home, garage and car.
· Remove weeds and grass from around your home.
· Remove any trash, boxes or wood stored next to your home.
· Lock up gasoline or other liquids that could be used to start a fire.
· Trim bushes away from doors and windows.
· Leave outside lights on when it is dark.

As always, if you see suspicious activity, report it to 9-1-1 while it is
happening.

Independence Day Celebrations

Another safety reminder we want to give you is regarding fireworks. City of
Seattle ordinances prohibit the sale, possession, use, or discharge of all
fireworks within city limits (including parks). Emphasis is placed on
fireworks because of: the potential of Injury to persons because of
carelessness or maliciousness; damage to property, and; the danger of fire.
Last year, the Seattle Police Department implemented Fireworks Emphasis
Teams to enforce the fireworks ban. Expect to see them this year, enforcing
the fireworks ban, confiscating them and arresting violators. Don¹t say I
didn¹t warn you.

Night Out 2007 Reminder
Finally, a reminder about National Night Out Against Crime 2007. It is
Tuesday, August 7th. To register your block or group for Night Out on-line,
go to www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/Default.htm
<http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/Default.htm>. If you want to close
your street off, you can indicate that on the registration form. The
deadline to register your group for Night Out is Friday, July 27th.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Aggressive Drivers Response Team

From June 14th South Precinct Email Community Newsletter

Aggressive Drivers Response Team
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities can be attributed to aggressive driving. Hallmarks of aggressive driving includes excessive speed, frequent or unsafe lane changes, tailgating, disregarding traffic control devices, cutting off other drivers, obscene hand gestures as well as making threats or yelling profanities.

In early May, Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske announced the formation of a special traffic unit that will target aggressive and dangerous drivers on Seattle streets. The goal of the ten-member Aggressive Drivers Response Team (ADRT) is to improve pedestrian and driver safety across the city.

All of the members of the ADRT squad were selected from the Traffic Unit and are extensively trained in emergency vehicle operation. They target areas that are known for aggressive driving, including Rainier Avenue South. They will also work chronic community traffic complaints, school zone violations and conduct pedestrian emphasis.

The officers will be driving the latest addition to the Seattle Police Department fleet, the 2007 Dodge Charger, which are equipped with digital video cameras integrated with an onboard mobile data computer.


Night Out Against Crime 2007

“Night Out” is a national Crime Prevention event. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to learn about crime prevention, while also celebrating your community and spending time with your neighbors. Night Out 2007 is Tuesday, August 7, 2007.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “What do aggressive driving and Night Out have to do with each other?” This year, the Seattle Police Department is encouraging Night Out participants to look at the issue of speeding and vehicular safety.

In the past year, we have seen a number of fatalities and accidents involving inattentive drivers and pedestrians. We’ve also seen a number of fatalities as a result of speeding. Rarely do we talk about speeding as a risk to our own or others personal safety. Yet, speeding reduces a driver’s ability to respond to or stop in emergency situations. Crash severity increases with the speed of the vehicle at impact and the effectiveness of restraint devices decline as impact speed increases. The probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury grows with higher speed at impact.

Let’s spend a few moments during our Night Out celebrations to consider our own driving habits and how we might be contributing to this dangerous problem. Let’s make a pledge to not speed in our or anyone else’s neighborhood.

To register your block for Night Out Against Crime 2007 on line, please use the following link:
http://www.seattle.gov/police/nightout/. If you would like a member from our Aggressive Driving Response Team to stop by your event, please indicate that on your Night Out registration.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator