2010 Police Movie Night
September 4, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
The Oglesby Police sponsored their second annual Police Movie Night on September 3rd 2010. This event is open to all Oglesby grade school children and their Parents/Grandparents. The children and their parents all enjoyed hot dogs, chips and juice compliments of the Oglesby Police Department. At 6:00pm everyone enjoyed an entertaining performance by “Those Funny Little People”. The performance was followed by a showing of the movie “Planet 51″. We had a very large number of families participate in this event and we hope to be able to do something similar again next year.
I would like to thank Chief Knoblauch, Assistant Chief Margis, Sergeant Bob Stone, Doug Knoblauch, James Mandujano, Michael Padilla, Jan Buffo, Anna Johnson, Pam Dornik, Evan Knoblauch, Steven Porter and Linda Porter for helping to make this event possible.
Photos and Video of this event may be viewed in the “Photo Gallery” section of the Oglesby Police Website.
“ICE” In Case of Emergency
May 31, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
“In Case of Emergency”
(ICE) Campaign
In view of recent terrorist events, hurricanes, and winter storms the “In Case of Emergency (ICE)” campaign has been launched worldwide. The idea is to store the word “ICE” in the address book of mobile phones with the name and phone number of the person that should be contacted in the event that the cell phone owner is injured and unable to communicate this information. For more than one contact name and priority, use ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc. It’s that simple.
Most people carry mobile phones, but research shows that more than 75% of people carry no details of who they would like contacted following a serious accident. With “ICE” first responders and hospital staff will turn to a victim’s mobile phone address book and know immediately who to contact. When seconds matter, this information may be vital. For example, the emergency contact may be able to provide critical information about the victim’s medical history. Research also suggests people may recover more quickly from the psychological effects of their loved one’s injury if they are involved at an earlier stage in the emergency.
Please think carefully about the “ICE” contact, especially when minors may be involved and this person has to give consent for emergency medical treatment.
ICE in your Mobile Phone
The original concept, conceived by Cambridge paramedic Bob Brotchie, involved putting the acronym ICE in front of your designated emergency contact. Follow these hints to get the best out of ICE:
Make sure the person whose name and number you are giving has agreed to be your ICE partner.
Make sure your ICE partner has a list of people they should contact on your behalf - including your place of work.
Make sure your ICE person’s number is one that’s easy to contact, for example a home number could be useless in an emergency if the person works full time.
Make sure your ICE partner knows about any medical conditions that could affect your emergency treatment - for example allergies or current medication.
Make sure if you are under 18, your ICE partner is a parent or guardian authorized to make decision on your behalf - for example if you need a life or death operation.
Should your preferred contact be deaf, then type ICETEXT then the name of your contact before saving the number.
Noted Concern:
My phone doesn’t show the callers name any more This will be because your ICE contact number is a duplicate entry of another contact in your phone book. If you have two numbers the same, your phone won’t know which one to display so it will show just the number. To get round this, simply type a * after the number under your ICE contact. It will still work and will cure the caller-ID problem.
Senior Scams & Swindles
March 24, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
On March 23rd the Oglesby police were invited to the Oglesby’s American Association of Retired Persons meeting (AARP) held at the Oglesby Elks Club. Assistant Chief Jim Knoblauch, Investigator Bob Stone and myself attended this meeting. Assistant Chief Knoblauch and Investigator Stone gave an approximately 30 minute informative talk that was primarily centered around “Scams & Swindles” that many seniors fall victims to.
Some of the topics discussed included people that may mis-represent themselves as offering needed services, such as home repair or cleaning. Many times dishonest individuals use these tactics to gain entry into homes. Once they are inside, they may attempt to distract the home owner and attempt to search the home for valuables and money that they may easily steal. Oftentimes, the homeowner doesn’t realize that anything is missing until long after the “scam” artist leave the area.
Another discussion detailed how residents are sometimes “tricked” into handing over money willingly to unscrupulous “swindlers”. Many times these individuals will target seniors that may have recently lost a family member and are grieving. One tactic is to send the resident a letter, always with an “explanation” regarding the sender needing help cashing a check or collecting a large windfall such as a lottery ticket. These letters always ask that you send money to a strange address, they usually indicate that this is a good faith gesture on the resident’s part, so that they show that they can be trusted. This always follows with a promise to send a large sum of money back under various scenario’s. Remember, If it sounds too good to be true… it usually is.
Presently, there appears to be an increase in another type of scam that involves a stranger calling a senior citizen, claiming to be a grandson or granddaughter. Usually they claim to be far away, in a foreign country, in some sort of trouble and ALWAYS needing money urgently. In this scam, the resident is asked to wire money to a far away destination. Please remember that these people are very good at what they do, which is STEALING YOUR MONEY. Many times people are so confused and worry about the “grandchild” that needs help, they are tempted to run to the bank and send the money without realizing that many parts of these “stories” do not add up. There have been many instances of this happening locally. Many times the bank employees are able to intervene, and stop seniors from being victimized, but not always.
It is important to note that these scams do not target seniors only. We can all be victimized from these unscrupulous individuals. Many times seniors are targeted because they are often times more isolated. Friends and family members may be gone or live far away. Many times seniors obey someone telling them what to do because they are under the impression that they are doing what is asked of them. They are simply trying to help whoever they believe is asking them for help. Many times it is people posing as family, friends, a banker or a credit card company. These are all tactics that dishonest individuals use to gain the trust of their victims.
If something doesn’t seem right. Don’t do it until you have all the facts. Take the time to ask friends, family, neighbors or anyone else that is available. If no one is available, Please call the police. The police cannot give legal advise, but they may be able to tell you if the situation that you are describing sounds “Too Good to be True”. They may be able to share with you that other people have fallen victim to the same letter, phone call or email. The police are willing to help any resident sort through the facts in these instances. Please ask for help from any source that is available to you.
I would like to thank the Oglesby AARP for inviting us and giving us the opportunity to address their members at this meeting.
Oglesby Police Department Website
March 22, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
The Oglesby Police Department is pleased to announce that our new website is on-line. We are using this new website as a tool to introduce some completely new programs in the Police Department and also to revitalize some older programs that may have become stagnant.
A few of the new programs are the “House Watch”, the “Extra Patrol Request”, the “Ordinance Violation Submission” and the “Speed Enforcement Sign Request”. These, along with the “Bicycle Registration” and the “Business Key Holder Registration” are all available on the new website as an electronic submission form as well as being able to download printable copies that can be filled out and either mailed, faxed or dropped off in person at the Police Station.
I am hoping that the “House Watch Program” will be beneficial to anyone that leaves their house vacant for an extended period of time. All a resident is required to do, is to inform the Police Department of the extended absence and this new program will insure that the specified residence will receive an increased level of scrutiny while they are gone. This scrutiny will consist of an officer periodically visually inspecting the property and performing “door knob” checks of the exterior doors. These actions will be documented and a written report will be mailed or e-mailed to the resident that requested the service upon their return.
We have information posted that describes our Enhanced 911 System, including how to use it and what to expect when you place a 911 call.
In the “Department Personnel” section, we have posted photographs of all our full time personnel.
This website also provides each officer and telecommunicator with an individual e-mail address. This greatly improves that ability to communicate within the Police Department. Prior to this, the administration and staff literally communicated using hand written letters and “post-it” notes.
The Oglesby Police and myself are pleased to be able to offer this new tool to help the Police Department better communicate with the community and to also provide another avenue for the community to communicate with the Police Department.
I encourage everyone to explore www.oglesbypd.com and become familiar with these programs and services that the Oglesby Police Department now offers to the community.
Congratulations to the Oglesby Ambulance Service
March 15, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
I am please to announce that the Department of Public Health has upgraded the Oglesby Ambulance Service from an “intermediate level” life support unit to a “paramedic level” service. I would like to thank the employees for committing to this level of service. This certification does not come easy. It requires a commitment of time and training to become certified as a Paramedic Level Service. Paramedics are authorized to administer more medications and perform additional emergency procedures to critical care patients. This upgrade enables our EMT’s to provide more advanced care for patients in the event of an accident or illness. Beginning appropriate care early, is critical to improving patient outcomes.
Congratulations… Thank You!
Fire Department is Seeking Volunteers
February 5, 2010 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
I would like to personally thank everyone that attended these sessions and expressed an interest in serving on our Fire Department.
Schools Zone & School Bus Safety
September 12, 2009 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
I would like to take a moment to remind area motorists to please be extra vigilant in school zones and near school buses as they pick up or drop off children.
I would like motorists to please focus not only on pedestrian safety but school bus safety also. Motorists can help protect children by being especially careful near schools and bus stops where children congregate. Safe driving can be accomplished by obeying speed zones, and by being extra vigilant whenever school age children are present.
Passing a stopped school bus can result in more than just a traffic fine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-fifth of all children 14 years of age and younger who die in motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians. These pedestrian fatalities are more likely to happen in the afternoon hours, when school is letting out.
Studies show that more than one-third of motorists in school zones or neighborhoods just “roll through” intersections with a stop sign. Slow down in or near school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop in all intersections.
Please be careful.
Thank You
Sunset Blvd. Traffic Study Data
September 7, 2009 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
This is the results of the traffic study that was conducted in response to some concerns that were brought forward by members of the community living near the Sunset/Swift Ave. and Sunset/Jordan St. intersections. I am posting the Traffic Study in it’s entirety below:
Please Remember the Oglesby Ambulance Service for Patient Transfer’s
September 6, 2009 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
I would like to remind everyone that this is an easy way to help and support our Oglesby Ambulance Service. It doesn’t cost the patient any more to utilize our own service when requesting to use the Oglesby Ambulance Service. Simply tell the hospital personnel that you would like to use the Oglesby Ambulance Service when you are being discharged from a hospital or nursing home and an ambulance is required. This simple request helps us to utilize our equipment more efficiently.
Thank You
Police Department Co-Sponsoring TRACE’S Exhibit
August 26, 2009 by Tom Porter
Filed under News from Your City Council
I would like to thank everyone that helped to make this exhibit a success. I spent about 30 minutes enjoying this exhibit Thursday evening. I observed many student’s viewing the exhibit, some taking notes, and receiving extra credit points from their teachers. I look forward to the Police Department helping with more of these types of projects in the future.
