Pre-Operational Surveillance
Instances of suspicious conduct observed by you, your employees or fellow community members, may not be criminal per se, but may be peculiar and unusual because it does not match the usual fact pattern you regularly experience when going through the various normal routines of everyday life. Should you encounter a suspicious individual or circumstance that you feel requires immediate attention, call 911. However, the option to contact the Nassau County Police Crime Stoppers, SPIN (the Security Police Information Network), the New York State tips line is intended to encourage and facilitate an exchange of information in such matters that may not necessarily appear to be an emergency.
The attachments below are general guidelines and/or indicators to increase awareness and assist you in the prevention of potential terrorist planning or activities. Alone each indicator can result from legitimate recreational, commercial activities or criminal activity not related to terrorism; however, multiple indicators combined with other information can possibly suggest a terrorist threat.
Both the Nassau County Police Crime Stoppers (1-800-244-TIPS) and the NY State (1-866-SAFE-NYS) Tips lines may be contacted 24-hours a day, seven days a week. SPIN (516-573-7020) can be contacted M-F 9-5pm. Thank you for your assistance. Feel free to share this information with all who may benefit from it. The attachments below are Adobe PDF files which must be viewed with the Adobe Reader. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you may download the application by clicking here.
School Bus Safety Advice
As students return to school, it is important to be reminded of the following safety guidelines and recommendations. School buses are the safest form of highway transportation. The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is getting on and off the school bus.Pedestrian fatalities (while loading and unloading school buses) account for approximately three times as many school bus-related fatalities, when compared to school bus occupant fatalities. The loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone”. The “Danger Zone” is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot, and the area behind the school bus).
More than half of the pedestrian fatalities in school bus-related crashes are children between 5 and 7 years old in 1999. Young children are most likely to be struck because they: Hurry to get on and off the bus; Act before they think and have little experience with traffic; Assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross the street; Don’t always stay within the bus driver’s sight.
Studies have shown that many drivers illegally pass stopped school buses that are loading/unloading students. Students riding a school bus should always: Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early; stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road; wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus; be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or door when exiting the bus; walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus; Walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead. Be sure the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver. Stop at the edge of the bus and look left-right-left before crossing. Tell the bus driver if you drop something beside the bus. Should you try to pick it up, the bus driver may not see you and drive into you.
During the school bus ride: Always sit fully in the seat and face forward; DO NOT distract the driver; never stand on a moving bus; obey the driver; speak in a low voice; NEVER stick anything out the window — arms, legs, head, bookbags, etc.
Motorists should be aware it is illegal in every state to pass a school bus stopped to load/unload students. Know and understand laws governing motorist’s driving behavior near a school bus. Learn the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists if they are going to stop to load/unload students. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists MUST stop their cars.
Begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins to move. Watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking about getting there safely. Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. Be Alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Nassau County Police Provide Digital Video Surveillance Guidelines for Local Businesses
Digital Video Surveillance Guidelines offered by the SPIN Security Advisory Council can be found on the NCPD web site http://www.police.co.nassau.ny.us. After the introduction on the site, click on Digital Video Surveillance Guide.The guidelines will help to inform the business community of the type and quality of digital video surveillance systems available in today’s marketplace. These security recommendations represent an important step towards developing and implementing a sound overall security plan. This document is not meant to take the place of a security professional. It was created to provide businesses with general guidelines for maximizing digital video surveillance.
Using the Internet to Stay Current with Technology and Your Kids
The Nassau County Police has provided the WHCA an important website that parents can visit to help them “stay with the times” when it comes to technology and their kids. Given the fast pace at which technology races ahead today, parents often are in the dark about what their kids are using the internet, cell phones, and video games for. Instant messaging over the internet and text messaging using cell phones have become commom methods of communication between kids and their friends.Visit http://www.noslang.com/ to learn more about acronyms and slang kids use when instant and text messaging. The more you know, the better you will be able to talk to your child about the appropriate use of these communication mediums.
West Hempstead Neighborhood Watch Program
The purpose of a neighborhood watch is to help deter crime and at the same time improve the quality of life for those who live or work in a community. This is accomplished by neighbors working together with each other in cooperation with the Nassau County Police Department.
Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Crime Watch – whatever the name, is one of the most effective and least costly ways to deter crime. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve. “The time to start a Neighborhood Watch Program is before problems occur, as a preventative measure,” commented a West Hempstead resident.
Any one who lives or works in West Hempstead can join – all age groups are welcome, single or married, home owner, renter or business owner. Watch Groups are not vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and helping neighbors. Neighborhood Watch helps build pride and serves as a springboard for efforts that address community concerns. For the program to start and become successful it needs community support.
If you want to be part of the Neighborhood Watch Program, or just want additional information, please contact your West Hempstead Civic Association by calling (516) 733-0879; or write to WHCA, PO Box 425, West Hempstead, NY 11552-0425; or email us at President@westhempsteadcivic.org.
The link above will open a new browser window and take you to the Nassau County police website. You will need the Adobe Reader to view the document. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you may download the application by clicking here.