National Night Out July 29, 2008
Posted by besachan in Events, Resources.Tags: Add new tag, block watches, Events, neighborhood
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National Night Out (NNO) is holding its 25th annual nationwide celebration this coming Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. It is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).
From their website: ‘Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 35 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.’
The GOALS of National Night Out are to
*Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
*Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
*Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
*Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Communities celebrate NNO by leaving their porch lights on throughout the night and joining together with thieir Neighbors and Blocks to ‘celebrate’ many different activities, including block parties, cookouts, picnics, and other neighborhoods events.
Some local NNO celebrations include:
Hill District;
Oakland; and
Beechview
Just last friday, the Tribune-Review published an article encourgaing communities to start block watches – you can use next Tuesday’s Nationwide Celebration to generate momentum in your neighborhood.
For local information or support, contact one of National Night Out’s local PIttsburgh Community Organizer’s:
Marlene Jackson of the Dinwiddie Community Alliance at dinwiddie_comm-alliance(at)yahoo.com, or
Lt. Nelson Mitchell of the Port Authority Police at nmitchell(at)portauthority.org
Enjoy your National Night Out!
Citizens Police Academy announces its next session July 24, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Events.Tags: citizens police academy, police
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Twice a year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for members of the community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) brings the police and the community close together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant.
The next session of the Citizen’s Police Academy will begin September 8, 2008, at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church, located at 116 S. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206. The program will be held each Monday evening, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for 15 weeks. This is part of the on-going plan to offer the CPA outside of the Bureau’s training academy facility. Class size is limited to 30 participants.
For more information on the City of Pittsburgh Citizen’s Police Academy, please contact Lieutenant Jennifer Beidle at:
Pittsburgh Police Headquarters
1203 Western Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
(412) 323-7844
jennifer.beidle (at) city.pittsburgh.pa.us
For more details, click here.
Or visit the Bureau of Police’s site directly to download an application and additional information at:
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/police/html/citizens_police.html
Operation S.O.A.R. Public Safety Awareness Day July 23, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Events.Tags: motor vehicles, police
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On August 9th, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office will be hosting Operation S.O.A.R. (Safe Operations are Your Responsibility) at Lot 1, Heinz Field at the corner of Art Rooney Ave. and W. General Robinson St from 9 AM to 4 PM.
This one day seminar is designed to educate the public with laws that pertain to towed vehicles, commercial vehicles, licensing requirements, weight of vehicles, and more. Newly licensed drivers are encouraged to attend, and the public is encouraged to bring trailers to the event so that officers may provide hands on training on properly outfitting vehicles for safe operational transport.
In the days and weeks following the event, an aggressive enforcement campaign will commence throughout Allegheny County. So, get your vehicle safe today!
South Oakland Block Watch Events July 3, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Events.Tags: block watches, east end, oakland, south oakland, volunteers
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The South Oakland Block Watch Safety Alliance (SBSA) is recruiting volunteers throughout South Oakland from each block or street to become block watch captains and co-captains. SBSA is also sponsoring a number of community clean-ups. Check the link below to read an e-mail from Holly, the SBSA’s director, with volunteer opportunities through the rest of the summer.
If you would like to volunteer in any of these events or have general questions, email sbsaemail (at) yahoo.com.
Keep it clean July 2, 2008
Posted by Program Coordinator in Events.Tags: clean-up, neighborhood, volunteering
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Are you familiar with the broken window theory? In their famous 1982 article “Broken Windows,” James Wilson and George Kelling wrote:
Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it’s unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.
Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars.
Keeping your neighborhood clean and attractive are two of the most crucial steps toward keeping it safe. Renew Pittsburgh, a volunteer group committed to just what it calls itself, is taking this matter into its own hands and organizing a series of neighborhood clean-up days through the rest of the summer.
Click here to see when Renew Pittsburgh will be in your neighborhood. For questions, comments, or to volunteer, contact Kevin Acklin, Renew Pittsburgh’s executive director, at (412) 404-6630 or at Kevin (at) RenewPittsburgh.com
Pittsburgh Safe Neighborhoods Block Watch Network Kick-off June 28, 2008
Posted by besachan in Events, Resources.add a comment
Thank you for taking your time and engaging with us to help launch the city-wide network of neighborhood and block watch groups.
Hopefully today you have started to make a series of connections with other people who are passionate about keeping their streets and communities safe. While each of our neighborhoods is distinct and has unique characteristics, the types of crime and root causes of criminal activities are more similar cross-neighborhood than we have realized in the past. We can learn from each other – what has worked, what hasn’t, what is causing crime and what and who is been successful at decreasing and preventing it?
Please continue to refer back to this site to write comments or thoughts right here on this page. Please visit our Questions page to read FAQ or to pose a question of your own for a public safety officer or fellow block watch-er to help you answer. Sharing our knowledge and experiences within and amongst each other will allow each of us to be more successful at our public safety initiatives and more fully take pride in the progress of our communities.
The police have committed themselves to protecting us as Pittsburghers, but we know our neighborhoods and streets best, and must continue to be watchful, informed and engaged in keeping our homes safe and sound.
