Happy New Year!!

Well, here we are. We say goodbye to 2007 and welcome 2008! As always, we look forward to the promise of a better year. There is always a feeling of excitement at this time of year as we toast all of accomplishments over the last year and anticipate all the good things coming up in the New Year!

Whatever you choose to do, please be safe. Enjoy your friends and family and ensure your continued peace and harmony by not overindulging. Don't hesitate to call a cab if you are out. There will be plenty around. If you notice someone driving erratically, call 911 from your cell phone. It goes without saying that you should NEVER put yourself into a dangerous situation.

Here's to a safe and prosperous 2008!!!

Be Safe!

Kim

A message from Mayor Joe Wright

"For those of you who remember the popular TV show Hill Street Blues, every show included Sergeant Phil Esterhaus cautioning those in the roll call room to “be careful out there.” While the show has been off the air for several years, we all should heed that advice. No community is immune from crime, but by banding together, we can make it more difficult for crimes to take place and enhance the safety of all our citizens. We are fortunate to have a local group of caring citizens, willing to step up, work together and focus their time, talents and dedication on enhancing community safety – the Beech Grove Crime Watch Committee. Led by community leader Kim Brinkley, the Crime Watch group is geared up to meet on Wednesday, January 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Community Center. I encourage you to mark your calendar and plan to attend this important meeting. Born out of the Citizens Police Academy, this group of dedicated, safety-minded citizens has continued to meet with various representatives of the Beech Grove Police Department, following their graduation from the Academy program this summer. The Crime Watch group’s focus is on community awareness and crime prevention. We all want our city to be as safe as possible. Partnering with our local law enforcement officers and using ongoing education and communication, the Crime Watch Committee is working hard to help ensure Beech Grove maintains its low crime rate and safe environment. The January 16 meeting will feature a panel made up of Police Chief Rich Witmer, Fire Chief Dennis Buckley, Public Works Director Sam Merl and myself to address neighborhood concerns, including such issues as how to get a stop sign installed and what steps should be taken regarding abandoned vehicles; issues that directly impact you and your family’s safety. New City Council members have been invited to attend and be introduced. The Crime Watch Committee’s blog is one you should check out for important and helpful safety tips and information. A big thank you to Kim, Dan McMillan and Debbie Springer who are spearheading the Crime Watch group – and to everyone involved in the dedicated efforts to improve the quality of life for all of us. Thank you for all you do to make our community a Better, Brighter Beech Grove. With a nod to the memory of Sergeant Esterhaus, I look forward to seeing you on January 16." Mayor Joe Wright

A Tip From One Of Our Citizens

This was left as a comment and it's important information. Thanks for keeping us "informed"!


"Today I heard that Greenwood Park Mall has been experiencing a wave of parking lot incidents, with women being mugged and/or having their purses snatched. While not BG, it certainly has the potential of affecting one of us if we shop there.

Please be on your guard when shopping, no matter where you are. It's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season, and let your guard down. This makes you an easier target."

Another Crime Tip

I just heard about this one. I don't know where it happened, but the logic behind it makes sense.

"A customer had her Christmas purchases rang up. The cashier asked her if she wanted the receipt with her or in the bag. The customer told the cashier to put the receipt in the bag. Evidently, she was being watched, and while she was walking to her car, thieves grabbed her bag with the receipt in it, along with three other bags. The customer had no recourse because without her receipt, she had no proof that she bought the items. The proof of ownership was the receipt, which was now in the possession of the thieves."

Just thought I would share.

Be Safe!

Kim

Stress and Abuse

Life can be stressful. This time of year can add even more stress to an already hectic environment.

If you ever find yourself in a time of crisis, whether it's involves domestic violence or feeling completely overwhelmed and unable to cope with family situations, please know that there are people around our area that care and are available.

If you would like to talk with someone, you can respond to this posting. All postings are reviewed by me before they are posted, so if you would like to talk to someone, please respond knowing that I will be the only person to see the comment. I am notified immediately when a comment is left so I will respond quickly. I assure you it will be confidential.

You can also contact the BGPD at 782-4949 for information.

The same holds true if you suspect that someone is in this type of situation and would like to offer help or make someone aware, possibly preventing a tragedy.

As always, in any type of emergency you should call 911 immediately.

You, my friend and dear neighbor, do not need to suffer. We are here for you!

Be safe,

Kim

More Safety Tips

These GREAT tips were sent in by a Beech Grove Resident.

Identity Theft Prevention Tips:

Be sure to sign the back of your credit cards! It is OK to write please check ID beside your signature, but if you don't sign the back of your credit card, the clerk has nothing to compare your signature to.

NEVER leave mail in your mailbox to be picked up. Hand it directly to your carrier, or drop it in a secured mail drop yourself. A raised flag on a mailbox screams"there's something in here" to potential thieves!

Victim Information Notification

Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE).
It’s a free service that allows not only victims of a crime to be notified when an offender is released, but anyone with a phone. It will phone up to 5 different numbers every 30-minutes, and then every 2-hours till confirmed. You confirm receipt of the message by entering a “PIN code”. You decide what the PIN code will be when you sign up on-line.
The VINE system was originally developed for victims of domestic violence cases, but it appears to include incarcerated persons from other offenses as well.
To use the program:
1. Click on the state of Indiana on the map.
2. Click on "Indiana Statewide Vine"
3. You will see four tabs across the top of the page. Click on the "Search" tab.
4. You will then be given the opportunity to enter the offenders name or ID number. For example, if you enter the last name of Bailey and the first name of Charity, and then "search", you will see that Ms. Bailey is still in the Marion County Jail.

http://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/initMap.do

Missing Persons

I've been following the developments involving the Stacy Peterson case. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the case, Stacy is a 23 year-old mother from Bolingbrook, Illinois that was reported missing on October 28th. Her family, friends and community are frantically searching for her. Although it doesn't really have anything to do with Beech Grove, I wanted to share a few links just in case there is a chance that this may find its way into the hands of someone who may know something....anything....that will lead them to Stacy.

This video has the last message Stacy left for her dad right before her disapearance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSq_aN6tPYQ

The web site set up for Stacy Peterson.
http://www.findstacypeterson.com/

The National Center for Missing Adults.
http://www.theyaremissed.org/ncma/index.php

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is a time when busy people can become vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. Here are a few tips to help you be more careful, prepared and aware during your shopping excursions during this holiday season.

• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your
  surroundings.

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

• Dress casually and comfortably and avoid wearing expensive jewelry. If possible, don’t carry a purse or wallet. Always carry your drivers license or identification card along with necessary cash, checks or credit cards. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

• Pay for purchases using a check or credit card when possible. Watch your credit card slips being filled out and make sure it is not passed through the card reader more than once. Ask for your carbons and destroy them at home.

• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused. (It’s a good idea to check with your credit card company or bank on a daily basis via online web sites.)

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• When parking, familiarize yourself with the parking lot. Park where there is plenty of light. Keep your car locked at all times.

• When walking through parking lots, be sure you are aware of your surroundings. Walk with authority.

• Lock packages or other valuables in the trunk of your car, but do it somewhere other than where you are parking.

• Walk to your car with your keys in your hands and ready to use.

• When you leave your car, it’s a good idea to leave the front seat up towards the steering wheel, like when someone is getting in the back seat. As you approach your car, if the seat is moved back to its original position, you should not approach your car.

• For those of you with automatic door lock devices, be extra careful. Activating the “unlock” feature unlocks all doors. It is very easy for someone to open the passenger side door and jump in as you are getting settled. Unlock only your drivers door with the key when you get to your car.

• Never leave your purse unattended in your shopping cart. Always keep it on your person.

• If you ever feel nervous, do not hesitate to ask a store employee for an escort to your car. They will be happy to assist.

These are only a few tips. If you have any to add to the list, feel free to post them.

Have a safe holiday season!!

Kim

Drug Use and Overdose

Below are links for two news stories from today's Channel 6 News. The stories serve as a reminder that we should always be aware of what our kids and their friends are doing. Once again, I would like to thank Detective Comstock and Detective McGuire for their presentation at our November Crime Watch meeting. The information they shared with us regarding drug and alcohol abuse was invaluable.


http://www.theindychannel.com/tu/5tOEV3jpj.html

http://www.theindychannel.com/tu/5tOEV2Fxq.html

Random Violence

My heart is heavy this morning as I sit here watching the news and drinking my coffee. I feel so helpless as I hear the circumstances surrounding TaJanay Bailey, the 3-year-old angel who's life was cut absurdly short by her parents. It seems so senseless. I try to come to terms with this violence and I'm not sure how. I'm sure you feel the same. As I look at my own little girl sleeping safely in her bed, I hurt for all the children who are victims of abuse and neglect. It doesn't help knowing that, at any given moment, I can turn on the news and hear of any number of cases of children who are victimized. I worry that our society will continue to become desensitized to these reports when instead, we should continue our quest to become educated and take ownership of our community, to question and challenge, to hopefully make a difference to at least one victim.

There are also the random acts of violence like the shooting that occurred up in the Geist neighborhood yesterday. Lavon Boyd, 25, decided to take a gun from his families home and visit the local Speedway station. When he arrived, a beautiful stay-at-home mother caught his eye.

Holly Corey, 49, stopped to get gas on her way to pick up her son from school. Boyd decided to shoot her while she was swiping her credit card at the pump. After shooting her, he decided to fire his weapon at an off duty secret service officer who happened to be at the station. He missed his target. Boyd's next bullet found his own head as he took his life a few feet away from the destruction he left behind. Holly never made it to pick up her son. Holly will never make her family another dinner. Holly died at the hospital.

It was coincidental that the parties involved ended up at the Speedway gas station at the exact same moment. Could anything have been done to prevent this senseless tragedy? There were so many factors playing a role in this with mental illness being a major contributor. Regardless, there are two families in mourning. There are friends, relatives and neighbors in mourning. Everyone wants to ask Why???

I do not have the answers. I do know that we cannot throw up our hands and resign ourselves to the fact that we have to accepting violence that seems so prevalent in our society.

This morning, I am grateful for my little house on 3rd street. I am safe here and it is because of our community. It is because of our public safety officials. It is because of people like you who care enough to get involved and stay involved. It is because I know we are pulling together as a group, one person at a time, to make Beech Grove safe for our children and the residents that call this community home.

I leave you with this: There is a story about a little boy walking the beach. During his daily walk, he would see hundreds of starfish that had washed upon the shore. He would take the time to throw them back into the ocean. A man saw the little boy diligently throwing the starfish back into the ocean, but with every wave, more starfish would wash back upon the shore.

The man approached the boy and asked him why he was wasting his time. The man told the boy that he could never make a difference. It was just too large of a task to overtake. The boy picked up another starfish and threw it with all his might back into the ocean. The little boy smiled at the man and said "I made a difference to that one".

We can make a difference. One starfish at a time!

Be safe and give your kids and spouse a hug today!

Kim

Theft from Vehicles

This information came to me in a bulletin at my place of employment. I find it pertinent due to the fact that the University of Indianapolis is "just around the corner" from Beech Grove. Please be aware of suspicious activity around your vehicles!

Be advised:

University of Indianapolis Campus Police have received two reports of catalytic converters being cut from the exhaust system of vehicles in the past 24 hours. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also has received increased reports of this type of theft on the south side of Indianapolis. Please be alert to persons working under vehicles on the street or in our parking lots. Do not approach them; instead call the Police at right away.

Sex Offender Registry

I wanted to share this information sent from one of our Crime Watch Block Captains. Please remember that you cannot harass a registered offender. This tool is simply for education and awareness of who our neighbors are.


Hello Friends,

It's come to my attention that yet ANOTHER sex offender (this one a child molester) has moved into our city.

I feel a responsibility to remind you of the importance of registering for email updates of the Indiana Sex Offender Registry. This free notification tool will prompt an email to you in the event a sex offender moves or registers with a work address in your neighborhood. Just click on the link to register: http://mail.mapmuse.com/re1/signUp.php

You can set your own distance range of notification. Mine is at 3 miles, which covers all of Beech Grove.

Note, you can also inform your neighbors (who may not have email) by word of mouth, or by providing printed notification of an offender in your area. You cannot place such notification in their mailbox, (that's a no-no!) but you can print flyers of your notices and place them in the doors of your neighbors, etc. Please note that you CANNOT harass the registered sex offender.

Not trying to play vigilante here, just want to heighten awareness of what's happening in our city, and do my part to protect our children. Our fine police department is not solely responsible in protecting us/our kids.... we must do our part as well.

For a complete listing of offenders residing or working in the Grove, click here: http://www.insor.org/insasoweb/initAdvancedSearchForm.do

You will have to check the disclaimer, then click on the acknowledge check to enter the site. Use the City or Zip Code Search option and you'll see that there are 14+ within a 1 mile radius, 38+ within a 2 mile radius, and 97+ within 3 miles.

Please note that not ALL are child molesters. For crime descriptions and definitions, click here: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar42/ch4.html

Please feel free to forward this information as you see fit.

Thanks!

Susan

Water Softener Solicitors

I just heard from a resident that a water softener company is going around Beech Grove and leaving surveys. As a word of caution, do not fill out the survey.

By filling out the survey, it allows companies to circumvent the No-Call list. These companies create a data base. By returning the survey, you are giving companies permission to call you.

If you are interested in a product these companies are offering, contact the company without filling out the survey. Why give out information???

Meeting Update

At our November meeting, we were given a wonderful presentation by our very own BG Narcotics team. Detective Darren McGuire and Detective Joel Comstock talked about the changing drug culture and what we can do to keep our kids safe in today's society. I learned a tremendous amount about what to look for and what we can do to help our police department in this never-ending battle of keeping our community safe. I will never look at Brillo pads the same way again!

Our next meeting will be held on January 16 and it will be very special so mark you calenders now!!

We will have a panel to address CRIME WATCH concerns. This panel will consist of the following:

Mayor Joe Wright
BOW Director Sam Merl
Police Chief Rich Witmer
Deputy Police Chief Kellen Malloy
Fire Chief Dennis Buckley
Stacy Walls (Prosecutor's Office)
Shirley Purvitis (IMPD Crime Watch Coordinator)

Join us at Hornet Park Community Center as we discuss concerns involving Beech Grove. You will be impressed with the efforts being put forth by our community leaders.

See you there!