While the arrival of the holidays brings many happy things, unfortunately it can also bring opportunistic thieves. There are several things to remember during the holiday season that can help reduce crime potential.

When shopping, do not leave valuable items in plain sight inside your vehicle. Instead, place recently purchased gifts and other valuables in your trunk or under a vehicle seat. Another easy measure to prevent theft is to lock your vehicle. If you find yourself at the mall, parking in a well lit or heavily traveled area will also discourage would-be thieves.

While you are away from home, keeping your blinds or curtains closed will prevent others from seeing valuable items inside your house. Additionally, leaving lights on in and around your home increases visibility and can deter crime.

After the holidays have passed, be cautious of the manner in which you dispose of your packages. Leaving packaging from valuable items at the curb for garbage pickup is a red flag. Place packaging in closed containers, disguise it by crushing it, or wait until the morning of garbage pickup to place it on the curb.

Taking simple preventative measures can go a long way to ensure that we all have a safe and crime-free holiday. As always, if you see any suspicious people, vehicles, or activity in your neighborhood, please call your local police department immediately.

From everyone at the Mequon Police Department, have a safe and happy holiday!

Although deaths and injuries from traffic crashes devastate individuals, families and entire communities throughout the year, they seem to be even more tragic during the holiday season.

To prevent these horrible crashes, Bayside, River Hills and Fox Point Police Departments will mobilize along with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state for the "Booze and Belts" traffic safety effort from December 7th to 15th.

We are providing ample warning that we will be cracking down on impaired drivers and unbelted motorists during this mobilization.  although this may be the time of year for the "holiday spirit" of forgiveness, we absolutely will not accept excuses or make exceptions for disregarding traffic safety laws.

Our goal is to save lives and prevent injuries-not to write more safety belt tickets or make more drunken driving arrests.  We hope that people will voluntarily decide to buckle up and drive sober.  But if they don't, our intensified traffic enforcement will increase the risk of getting caught.  Our ultimate goal, during the Booze and Belts mobilization and throughout the year, is to one day attain zero preventable traffic deaths in Wisconsin.

Over the last several months, the Village of Bayside Police Department has attempted to raise money in order to install cameras at the intersection of W. Brown Deer Road and N. Port Washington Road.  This intersection is the most heavily travelled in the Bayside/Fox Point area.  Over the past year police have responded to more than 1300 calls for service in a two block radius of the intersection.  The calls range from a fatal car accident, armed robberies, thefts and suspicious activity to vandalism and worthless check complaints. When patrol cars are near the intersection, our apprehension rate for crime related calls approaches 100%! 

The two cameras would be installed on a pole at the intersection and be controlled by our dispatch center.  Having cameras at the intersection would allow the Police Dispatchers to quickly identify the perpetrators and their direction and mode of travel.  We would be able to monitor the intersection in "real time",  24 hours per day and provide information to officers responding to calls in the area.   

On 12/30/09 with the help of Best Buy, the Village of Bayside Police Department will hold a drawing with first prize of a 42" LG LCD TV with a  LG Home Theater System including a Blu-ray Player and Harmony 510 Remote.  The second place winner receives an Avital Car Starter with Remote and third prize includes a Tom-Tom One 140s GPS.  The prizes were donated by Best Buy and proceeds will help Bayside raise funds for the Neighborhood Camera Project.

Raffle tickets are available at the Bayside Police Department which is open 24 hours per day.  One ticket is $15 or three for $25.  Bayside employees are not eligible to win.  For further information contact the Bayside Police Department at 414-351-8800.

Mequon-Thiensville's annual Trick or Treat will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2009, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm.

As a reminder, here are some general safety tips:

·         Children should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

·         Wear reflective or bright colored clothing to increase visibility

·         Carry a flashlight or other light device to alert vehicles of your presence

·         Be cautious of traffic when walking in subdivisions that have no sidewalks or limited street lights

·         Parents should check through candy to ensure nothing has been tampered with

The Lakefront Marathon will be on Sunday, October 4, 2009. The race will begin at the Grafton High School at 8:00 AM.

The Course:The Lakefront Marathon is a USAT&F Certified Course (WI-06092-JW) that starts in front of Grafton High School on Hwy. 60 (about one mile west of I-43). This flat and scenic point-to-point course travels south through rural countryside, quiet northshore neighborhoods and finishes along the shores of Lake Michigan north of the Milwaukee Art Museum at Veterans Park. The Lakefront Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying course (and if you qualify at Lakefront you would be eligible to use that time for the next two runnings of the Boston Marathon). Check out the Course Map.

www.badgerlandstriders.org/lfm/

Please pay extra attention while driving on the course route.

Beginning at 12:00pm and ending at 5:00pm, on Saturday September 12th, the Village of Bayside will once again hold our village picnic.  Everyone is welcome to join in the annual festivities.  Ellsworth Park, located at 600 E. Ellsworth Lane in Bayside, will once again be the sight for a variety of activities.

Not only will great food and drinks be served, several events will keep both young and not very young entertained.  "Bayside Best" competition will feature our increasingly popular singing contest.  More music will be provided by DJ Brian Redd.

On hand will be North Shore Fire Department, North Shore Library, US Coast Guard and an informational booth.  Raffles and games as always will be featured as well.  Parking will be permitted at Bayside Middle School, 601 E. Ellsworth and at the South parking lot of the Village Hall, 9075 N. Regent Road.  Ellsworth Lane will be closed near the park entrance to allow for a safe route for the fire department vehicles.  The picnic is held rain or shine. 

Every day throughout Wisconsin there are serious and even fatal motor vehicle crashes. Many times, these crashes can be avoided by paying extra attention and following simple rules of the road. Vehicle crashes frequently occur in and around intersections. In accordance with state law, drivers must stop for all red traffic signals and must also stop for all yellow traffic signals, as long as it is safe to do so.

Furthermore, drivers need to pay more attention while driving in order to prevent collisions. Inattentive driving related crashes, including those caused by cell phone usage, can result in serious injury, large fines, and even jail sentences. Keep yourself and other drivers safe by practicing these safe driving strategies:

·         Minimize distractions in your vehicle so the driver can focus on driving.

·         If you must use a cell phone, pull over in a safe location, out of traffic.

·         When following other vehicles, leave extra space. A good rule of thumb is a "two second distance." For example; if you are traveling 40 mph, a two second distance is the equivalent of approximately 120 feet. This distance will help ensure that you have enough time to perceive a hazard, respond to the hazard, and safely stop your vehicle.

·         Be alert for vehicles that are not easily seen, such as motorcycles. Considering motorcycles can turn more sharply and stop quicker than automobiles, drivers must leave additional space when around them. Remember, motorcycle operators do not have the structural protection that automobiles do. Recently, the State of Wisconsin passed additional penalties that will be levied against drivers who cause motorcycle crashes.

It is each individual driver's responsibility to drive safely and obey traffic laws. By paying attention, obeying the rules of the road, and providing additional space between vehicles, we can all work together to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities that occur on Wisconsin's roads. And please, if you observe reckless, dangerous, or possibly intoxicated driving, call 911 immediately.  

From August 21st through September 7th, Bayside Police Department along with Fox Point, River Hills and agencies throughout Wisconsin and thoughout the nation will be patrolling in greater numbers and for longer hours to arrest impaired drivers and get them off the road.

Saturation patrols and other types of high visibility enforcement have proved to be an effective deterrent to impaired driving, especially when combined with an effective media campaign like Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

Impaired driving is prevalent and deadly:

1.  Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation.  More than 26 percent of Wisconsin adults who were surveyed admitted that they had driven under the influence of alcohol in the previous year, according to a nationwide study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released in 2008. (you can find the study at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.cfm ).

2.  Last year, alcohol related crashes killed 234 people in Wisconsin and injured 4, 319.

3.  Deaths from motorcycle crashes are increasing this year.  Approximately 47 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin are alcohol related.

Drive impaired and you'll get arrested:

1.  Last year in Wisconsin, approximately 37,000 drivers were convicted of drunken driving.  That number exceeds the population of many major cities, including Manitowoc, Superior and West Bend, and nearly equals the population of Beloit.

2.  Our message is simple - if you're over the limit, you will get arrested.  There will be no warnings or second chances.

3.  If you're arrested, you can lose your license as well as a huge amount of money.  Repeat offenders also face imprisonment.  If you hurt or kill someone in a crash you will face very serious charges, like vehicular manslaughter.

4.  Refuse a blood/breath alcohol concentration test and you can lose your license on the spot and have your car impounded.

5.  Our goal is not to arrest more drunken drivers.  Our goal is to deter drunken driving, so that we can reach our ultimate goal of zero preventable traffic deaths.

Important advice:

1.  Choose a sober designated driver before you start drinking.

2.  If you're feeling buzzed, you likely are over the 0.08 BAC limit and should not drive.

3.  Rather than risk an arrest, take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

4.  Save a life - don't let your friends drive drunk.

5.  Some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home.  Visit www.tlw.org/ and click on Safe Ride.

6.  Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.

Online resources:

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest Law Enforcement Action Kit:  http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/media/index.htm

Zero In Wisconsin traffic safety campaign, including TV and radio commercials:  http://zeroinwisconsin.gov

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest logos and artwork: http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/planners/crackdown2009/index.cfm

Wisconsin drunken driving facts and statistics:  http://www.dot.wisconsin/gov/safety/motorist/drunkdriving/index.htm

UW Madison Law School Resource Center on Impaired Driving:  http://www.law.wisc.edu/rcid

Recently we have received numerous complaints about bicycles being to far into the roadway. In the past few weeks, Fox Point and Bayside have had bicyclists struck by a motor vehicle. A Wheel and Sprocket employee has also been struck by a motorists.

Wisconsin state law states the following:

• Bicycles are vehicles. They belong on the road.
• Cyclists need room to get around potholes, sewer grates and other obstructions.
• Leave at least three feet when passing bicycles, more room at higher speeds.
• Change lanes to pass any bicycle traveling in a narrow lane.
• Train yourself to scan for fast moving (it's hard to tell speed) bicycles and motorcycles in the opposing lane to you when turning left, and scan sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and bicyclists using the sidewalk and crosswalk as a pedestrian. Always scan to your right side sidewalk before you leave a stop light or stop sign. And to the left and right side sidewalks when on a one-way street.

Just a reminder to bicycle riders, as with motor vehicles who break traffic laws, bicycle riders can receive moving violation citations, the most common being stop sign violations.

In order to obtain a drivers license in Wisconsin, new drivers must first pass a written test, then a road test.  Over a period of time, many drivers become complacent or just "forget"  some of the traffic laws.  For instance, I have pulled drivers over for passing school busses while the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is activated.  The excuses given are "I thought only cars behind the bus had to stop" or "I saw that the kids had already gotten on the bus". 

With summer months here, we see more pedestrians and bicyclists on the road.  This means drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings.  Remember, it is the responsibility of the driver to stop at a crosswalk to safely allow pedestrians/bicyclists to cross.  This pertains to crosswalks at controlled (signals) or uncontrolled intersections.  In turn, pedestrians/bicyclists have a responsibility to refrain from entering an intersection when any approaching vehicles would not be able to stop safely.

Another tip regarding crosswalks, when approaching a red light at an intersection, you must stop behind the crosswalk.  Allow pedestrians to cross the roadway safely without having to walk outside of the painted lines.  Further, many signals are activated by sensors beneath the roadway.  If a vehicle is in a crosswalk and not behind the line, the sensors may not be activated and the signals may not change in a timely fashion. 

For those of you driving through River Hills, and many other areas, it's evident that construction season is upon us again.  This year major construction is happening throughout the summer on W. Brown Deer Rd., as well as W. Good Hope Rd. starting in July.  With the construction comes delays to motorists.  So plan accordingly and take another route if possible.  Here are some tips to remember during road construction season:  PO Chris Malek of the River Hills Police Department provides these following tips:

MANAGE YOUR SPEED:
        Slow Down when approaching all work zones. You will be in the work zone quicker than you think. 
        Follow Posted Speed Limits, especially within construction zones, and try to maintain a consistent speed with the traffic flow. And adjust your speed for weather conditions.
        Don't Resume Normal Speed until you see roadway signs indicating it's safe to do so.
        Remember that fines can be doubled for violations committed in construction areas.

MANAGE YOUR SPACE:
        Leave Room. Leave adequate braking room between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Count out at least two seconds from the time the car ahead of you passes an object and the time your own car passes that object.  Also, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers.
        Don't Pass on the Shoulder. Don't drive across the median. This creates a very dangerous situation for you, construction workers and other motorists -- not to mention the  steep fine.
        Leave Yourself an Out. When stopped in traffic, leave a safety zone between you and the vehicle in front of you. A good rule of thumb is that when stopped in traffic you should be able to see the bottom of the tires of the vehicle in front of you.
        Watch Out for Tailgaters. Do not force tailgaters to back off by slamming on your brakes or reducing your speed significantly. This practice can lead to road rage and increases the chances of a collision.    When possible, pull over and let them pass. If this is not possible, turn your headlights on and off several times during daylight hours to illuminate your tail lights and warn tailgaters they are too close. If at night, lightly tap your brake pedal to illuminate your brake lights.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS:
        Keep Your Cool. Calm down and don't rush. Remember, the temporary inconvenience of a construction zone will pay off with greatly improved roads soon.
        Pay Attention. Avoid cell phone or radio distractions, as well as those of other stopped cars or construction.
        Expect Delays. Leave a bit earlier, if necessary, to arrive at your destination on time. Consider using an alternate route that bypasses the construction zones.
 

With summer upon us, the Mequon Police Department anticipates a busy season of recreational trail, nature preserve, and waterway use.  To help ensure safety and enjoyment for all, the Mequon Police Department staffs both Boat and Bicycle Patrol Units. While the Boat Patrol Unit operates solely on the Milwaukee River, the Bicycle Patrol Unit can be found in various nature preserves, city parks, and on the Interurban Trail. Both of these units are employed to enhance safety, promote community-police interaction, and assist outdoor enthusiasts in any way necessary. Boaters, trail users, and park goers should all anticipate seeing Mequon police officers performing a wide array of duties in different recreational arenas.

While enjoying the variety of adventures that Mequon has to offer, please remember the following safety tips:

·         It is safest to always wear an approved life vest while boating

·         A bicycle helmet and highly visible colors are strongly recommended when cycling

·         Be courteous toward other people you may encounter

·         Cyclists must obey all stop signs and traffic signals

·         Be aware of your surroundings at all times

·         Do not leave valuable items unattended outside or visible in your vehicle

·         Report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 911

Through a strong community-police partnership, we can all succeed in having yet another fun and safe summer outdoors.

Not so long ago, people did not feel the need to lock their doors or windows. But times have changed, and so has the need to use locks for protection.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, most individuals do not have the proper lock security. Only half of Americans have dead-bolt locks on all the entry doors to their homes and nearly one in five have none at all.

The National Crime Prevention Council recommends checking and updating old locks on all doors and windows and replacing them with ones that provide protection from keys being duplicated without your knowledge, such as Medeco Security Locks. In addition, it advises you to make sure your locks have a long enough bolt so that the door cannot be pried open.

Installing quality locks is the first line of defense against home burglaries since they can protect you against physical attack, Other steps can be taken to increase your security, as well. Here are some tips from the National Crime Prevention Council.

*Use your locks. Even the best locks can't protect you if you don't use them.

*Do some yard work. Trim hedges and bushes so thieves can't hide out.

*Know your neighbors. Neighbors who look out for each other are among the best, and least expensive, defense against neighborhood crime.

*Secure your spare. Leave your spare key with a trusted neighbor. Never hide it on the property. Burglars have more experience looking for keys than you do hiding them.

*Let there be light. Make sure all outside entrances - front, back and side - have good lighting so burglars can't easily hide.

*Stop mail and paper deliveries. A pile of newspapers in the driveway is a clear sign to a thief that you're away from home.

For more tips on securing your home and yourself, visit the National Crime Prevention Council Web site at www.ncpc.org. Additionally, if you are interested in a home security survey or being placed on a vacation check list, please contact your local police department.

On Sunday June 7, 2009 the 29th Annual Miller Lite Ride for the Arts will once again make tracks through several suburban communities after beginning the ride at The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  Approximately 2,500 of the riders will make their way through Mequon, Bayside, Fox Point as well as other North Shore communities, as they embark on the 50 and 75 mile routes. The United Performing Arts Fund expects almost 7,000 riders total on routes ranging from 5 miles to 75 miles.  Specific route information is available at www.millerliteride.com/.

Volunteers and police officers will be on hand throughout the routes to assist with traffic.  We ask that residentes take alternative routes if possible, as delays may occur as the riders make their way through our communities.  The ride begins at 7:00am and is expected to be completed early in the afternoon.

It has been a few years since The Bayside Police Department has been able to provide baseball cards to children.  We are happy to say that Funjet Vacations, headquartered in Bayside, has donated the funds necessary to distribute Brewer baseball cards to our youth.  Thirty members of The Milwaukee Brewers, including Coach Ken Macha will be featured on a rotating schedule beginning the week of May 25th and going through August 31st. 

we encourage parents to challenge their children to try and collect as many different cards as available.  Two different cards will be distributed each week.  The first cards feature Pitcher Jeff Suppan and Pitcher Jorge Julio.  As officers patrol the streets, have your kids give us a wave.  If we are not on our way to a call, we will gladly stop to give them the latest cards.  Make sure your children know not to approach an officer while they are writing a citation, appear to be conducting an investigation, or are operating the emergency lights.

Milwaukee area police departments have been distributing baseball cards since 1982.  The program has always been a major league hit with kids.  We look forward to meeting your kids this summer!

Bayshore Safety Days

Bayshore Town Center - Town Square, 5900 North Port Washington Road, Glendale, WI.

Saturday, May 30, 2009 from 10:00AM - 3:00PM

Demonstrations and displays, FREE train rides for the kids, sponsored by Canadian Pacific Railway.

All day silent charity auction.

Safety checks for bike helmets.

Police Crime Prevention booth.

Police and Fire vehicle show (you pick the winner).

Sit inside these emergency vehicles:

Milwaukee Fire Bell Club, State Patrol Dodge Charger, Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol Mobile Command Center, FBI Mobile Command Post, ATF National Response Vehicle, Northshore Police and Fire Vehicles and many more.

Special appearances by "McGruff" the Crime Dog, "Sparky" the Fire Dog, "Ashes" the Fire Safety Dog, "Pounce the Panther" from UW-Milwaukee Basketball, "Roscoe" from the Milwaukee Admirals, "Ronald McDonald" from McDonald's Restaurant, "Eddie the Gun Safety Eagle" and many more.

Safety Station Raffle sponsored by Kurth Chiropractic

Many more public safety groups will be in attendance.

Come and join us for this FREE educational event!

28th Annual Event is presented by the Glendale Police Department, Steiner Inc. and help from the North Shore Crime & Fire Prevention Officers.