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 Ted
Mink is sheriff of Jefferson County. He leads the Jefferson
County Sheriff's Office, the largest full-service sheriff's office in
Colorado.
The
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is committed to the principles of
community policing through education, partnership, analysis and enforcement.
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April 2010
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The
Power of Crime Prevention
Did
you know that about two thirds of car "break-ins" in Jefferson
County happen to cars that are left unlocked? Meaning there's no
"break-in" at all. Last year, 885 car trespasses were
reported in Jeffco. Of those, 575 were unforced. Criminals
usually take the path of least resistance.
Unfortunately,
minor crimes like car trespasses often involve the theft of identifying
materials like credit cards, licenses or registrations - allowing thieves
to commit much bigger identity theft crimes soon after.
Since
criminals usually look for the lowest-hanging fruit, prevention methods are
effective in keeping crime rates low. Yes, there will always be unpredictable
and unpreventable crimes. But we know today that many of the crimes
in our county can in fact be prevented.
The
Sheriff's Office has a dedicated team of three certified crime prevention
deputies whose sole purpose is to work with citizens to prevent
crime. Through on-site visits, phone calls, special events, child
safety activities and other opportunities, these deputies share vital
information with the public on how to keep crime at bay. Here are
some ways you can take advantage of the services they provide.
Speaking
Engagements
Our crime prevention team hits the
road to speak at businesses, association meetings, service clubs and even
scout meetings. They address bank employees on what to do in a
robbery, construction companies on preventing copper theft, and school
groups on responsible reporting. They are available to speak to your
organization on a variety of public safety topics.
Special Events
Crime prevention deputies attend dozens of community events throughout the
year, bringing literature on topics from sex offenders to problem
barking. They're on hand to answer questions and share information
about crime and quality-of-life issues in Jeffco. Some of the events
where you'll find us include: the West Metro Fire Muster,
the Elk Creek Safety Fair,
Touch-a-Truck and
the Evergreen Rodeo.
Home Security Surveys
One of the services that our team provides is an on-site security
survey. A deputy will evaluate your house's strengths and weaknesses,
including locks, lighting and landscaping. He can then recommend
changes that can make the building more burglary-proof. The process
takes about an hour and is also available to businesses and places of
worship.
Neighborhood Watch
The crime prevention deputies administer the Neighborhood Watch program
throughout the county. There are currently 70 active Neighborhood
Watch groups in our county - each has vigilant residents who work with law
enforcement to identify, prevent and solve crime close to home.
Child Safety
Our crime prevention deputies are trained and certified in the
Safety Kids Inc. child safety curriculum. They work closely with our
child safety ambassador Joyce Nelson, traveling to area day care centers,
schools and scout groups to deliver a fun and interactive child safety presentation
featuring Charlie Check-First.
National Night Out
National Night Out is
a series of local celebrations held on the first Tuesday in August each
year, nationwide. NNO gives neighbors an opportunity to get together in a
setting close to home. Of the many crime prevention strategies out there,
communication among neighbors ranks among the most effective. NNO is
also an opportunity for deputies to interact with residents in a positive,
relaxed and informal way. To plan an NNO event in your neighborhood,
contact your precinct crime prevention deputy.
Contact Us
Taking steps to help prevent crime in your neighborhood is a
smart way to protect yourself and your family. But it's also an
investment in your community and your quality of life. To learn more
about crime prevention services, contact your area crime prevention
deputy.
Crime Prevention Deputy - North Jeffco: 303-271-5363
Crime Prevention Deputy - South Jeffco: 720-377-2002
Crime Prevention Deputy - Jeffco Mountains: 720-497-7860
Child Safety Programs: 303-271-5665
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Upcoming
Events
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 Come see us at any of the following community
events! Click the links to learn more.
Where deputies serve the community in more ways than
one! A fund-raiser for Special Olympics Colorado.
April 24: Courage Walk
A time to honor the strength and courage of survivors we have come to know
in the aftermath of crime.
May 8: 9News Shred-a-Thon
A great opportunity to prevent identity theft by
securely shredding sensitive documents. The event is free, and
donations go to Metro CrimeStoppers.
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Safety
During Cycling Season
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 Spring is here, and cyclists are on the roadways in
greater numbers. We want to remind motorists and cyclists to share the road, stay
alert, and do your part to keep our roadways safe.
Traffic
laws apply to all road users. Both motorists and cyclists are responsible for obeying
traffic laws. Cyclists are expected to obey traffic signs and signals.
Cyclists may ride abreast when doing so will not impede the reasonable flow
of traffic.
A new Colorado law
that went into effect in August 2009 requires that passing motorists give
cyclists at least 3 feet of space. To make this
possible, motorists may cross a center line when the road is clear to
pass safely.
Mutual respect and
cooperation between motorists and cyclists makes the road safer for
everyone. To continue reading about traffic laws and cyclist-motorist
safety issues, visit our Web site here.
Safe travels!
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The
monthly "Behind the Badge" column is written on or before the
20th of each month by Sheriff Ted Mink of the Jefferson County Sheriff's
Office, in Golden, Colorado. It features information and tips for
local residents regarding crime prevention, crime trends, public safety and
quality-of-life issues.
The
column is distributed to Jefferson County homeowner associations,
Neighborhood Watch captains, Business Watch participants and local
news media. Please contact us with questions or comments at aburns@jeffco.us.
View
previous posts by visiting the Behind the Badge archive here.
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