[Durham INC] Please pass this along to your neighborhood list servers.

Wed Jan 27 00:28:37 EST 2010

Jennifer Snyder of the Durham Police Department asked me to get this out to
as many neighborhoods as I could I am counting on my fellow INC'ers to help
her out by passing it along to there respective neighborhood list servers.
Thanks,

Randy Pickle

________________________________________________________________________________________

What is *Safety in Numbers: Can We Count You In*?

*Safety in Numbers *is a campaign to mobilize Durham residents against gun
crime and violence. The campaign is coordinated by Project Safe
Neighborhoods, a division within the Durham Police Department that partners
citizens with law enforcement representatives to reduce violent crime.

This 2010 initiative is entitled *Safety in Numbers *because it provides
accurate violent crime data and offers various strategies citizens can
employ to keep Durham safe. It promotes the importance of volunteering time
to anti-crime efforts and programs for at-risk youth. Finally, it encourages
committed residents to take a stand against gun violence.

*Durham’s Gun Crime*

Cities and law enforcement agencies across the United States are
increasingly challenged by gun crime. While Durham in no exception, Durham’s
law enforcement officers do an excellent job abating crime and engaging
citizens on how they can help keep the community safe to raise a family,
conduct business and enjoy leisure activities.

Violent crime decreased in Durham by 13 percent in the first nine months of
2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Violent crime includes incidents
such as robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm, and homicides. In
2009, Durham reported 456 robberies with a firearm, 340 aggravated  assaults
with a firearm, and 12 homicides by firearm.

Any incident of gun crime is one too many. Not-withstanding the tragic loss
of human life and related trauma, gun violence costs all of us in terms of
employee productivity; medical care and emergency transport;  courtroom
hours; increased home and business insurance; school expulsions and the
student’s potential to dropout. Gun violence also affects our community’s
image and economic vitality.

 **

*How You Can Help to Keep Durham Safe: ***

*We Have Plenty of Ammunition** *

· Get to know your neighbors. Become familiar with their schedules. Alert
one another when you’ll be out of town or when you expect a strange car to
be parked in front of your home.

· Join Neighborhood Watch or form a chapter in your area. For more
information, contact the Crime Prevention officer for your police district.

· Report suspicious activity and when you hear shots fired. Do not fall prey
to threats about reporting criminal activity. Call 911 if you witness a
crime in progress. Call 560-4600 for incidents that can wait for a response
and 683-1200 to contact CrimeStoppers with a tip about crime. You never have
to give your name to receive a reward.

· Call the Impact Team at 560-1200 when you see graffiti that should be
removed.

· Teach children not to touch firearms but to immediately notify a
responsible adult if they find a gun.

· Store legal firearms in a locked cabinet with bullets removed and secured
in a separate place.

·  Utilize locks during transportation or when guns are out of locked
cabinets. Gun locks are available at no charge at Durham Police substations,
the Durham County Health Department, Durham County Jail, and the Durham
County Sheriff’s Office.

· Photograph firearm serial numbers in case guns are stolen.

· Remind family and friends who have guns to follow these precautions.

· Do not purchase firearms for anyone other than yourself.

· Be a witness in the crimes you report that lead to arrest.

*Volunteer Your Time: ***

*The Caliber of Your Character Makes a Difference***

· Host safety awareness meetings in your home if your area does not have a
Neighborhood Watch program.

· Join your district’s Partners Against Crime group. Contact your police
district substation for meeting information.

· Support Durham Police Department initiatives such as the Citizen Police
Academy, Citizen Observer Patrol (COP), Project Safe Neighborhoods’
Community Responses, and National Night Out events.

· Demonstrate compassion for families who have lost loved ones to violent
crime by attending homicide vigils sponsored by the Religious Coalition for
a Non-Violent Durham.

· Volunteer for one of the city’s numerous programs that serve at-risk
youth. Be a tutor, mentor, Big Brother/Sister, or coach!

· Call the Volunteer Center of Durham (613-5109) to discuss additional ways
to serve the community.

· Collaborate with friends, neighbors, congregations, or colleagues and lend
a hand to other Durham families.

· Take pride in your neighborhood by picking up litter on your street. Work
with others to beautify your community.

· Donate materials or contribute financially to community groups who provide
school supplies to needy students.

*Be an Active Partner against Gun Crime and Violence:***

*Don’t Stay at Arm’s Length*

During 2010, citizens, community leaders, and business owners throughout our
city will collaborate in an unprecedented manner to take a stand against gun
crime. You are invited to join this comprehensive collaboration to keep
Durham a safe and prosperous place to work and play. Tell your friends,
family, neighbors, and colleagues about *Safety in Numbers*.

*For more information about Safety in Numbers or Project Safe Neighborhoods,
please contact the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator at *

*(919) 560-4438 x29230*

* *

*E-mail: jennifer.snyder at durhamnc.gov*

*http://www.durhampolice.com/psn*

*National website: http://www.psn.gov*
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