DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, September 25, 2010

10am-2pm


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is asking for your help. As you know, prescription drugs are being misused and abused at alarming rates throughout the United States. As part of our efforts to address this problem, DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, September 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, all over the United States. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.


This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.


Collection sites can be found by going to the link found at www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com or www.JustThinkTwice.com. This site will be continuously updated with new take back locations. Anyone interested in helping to have a take back event in their community are encouraged to contact their local police or sheriff's office, or by calling the appropriate DEA Field office.


___________________________________________________________ 
_

FBI National Academy Training Update:

18 August 2010

Hello from Quantico, Virginia! I am more than half way through my training at the FBI National Academy. Soon I will be returning home. I am looking forward to my return and am looking forward to seeing everyone. This has been an amazing experience and I greatly appreciate the support of the community while I attend this training.
This morning we completed a 4.2 mile challenge run. In all there are eight physical challenge days. We complete these challenges each Wednesday morning. The last challenge is three weeks from today and consists of a 6.2 mile run/obstacle course. The physical portion of this training experience has been challenging but rewarding. I have been impressed with the instruction we have received in the area of law enforcement physical fitness and nutrition.
The classroom portion of my training has also been challenging but at the same time very educational. I have learned a lot from my peers and instructors. We are receiving an amazing education here. I am taking two leadership courses, a media course, a course dealing with the management of death investigations, and a labor law course. I have especially enjoyed the leadership and media courses. We get to do a lot of group work, presentations, and have excellent discussions in these courses about law enforcement trends and core values.
My roommate is from Costa Rica and my dorm neighbors are from Gilbert, Arizona and Nassau County, New York . It has been interesting learning about law enforcement in these larger communities and in a completely different culture.
I sincerely thank the great staff of the Nevada Police Department who have worked so hard and done a tremendous job of covering my responsibilities at home while I attend this training. The City of Nevada is truly lucky to have these great professionals serving in the police department. I also appreciate the tremendous support I have received from City Administrator Elizabeth Hansen, Mayor Gearold Gull, and the entire City Council.
I will be back in the office on September 22. I look forward to catching up and getting back to work.


Chief Michael W. Tupper
___________________________________________________________
CHILD AND TRAFFIC SAFETY REMINDERS

By: Michael W. Tupper
Nevada Police Department
Chief of Police

With the first day of school being on September 1, 2010, the Nevada Police Department is urging motorists to be alert for children. Drivers should be particularly careful around schools, bus stops, and residential areas.

In an effort to help children travel to and from school safely, the Nevada Police Department will be increasing traffic enforcement efforts in and around school zones. Officers will be watching for a variety of traffic violations including motorists speeding through school zones, motorists disobeying traffic control devices, vehicles driving through school bus warning devices, and non-compliance with seat belt laws.

Drivers are reminded to:

• Obey all traffic signs, stop signs, red lights, speed limit signs, etc.
• Watch for clues that indicate that children may be in the area; i.e. the presence of safety patrols, adult crossing guards, school buses, school zone signs, and bus stops.
• Give the right of way to pedestrians crossing the street.
• Share the roadway with bicyclists.
• Buckle seat belts and restrain your children in appropriate child safety seats.
• If you are picking your child up from school, designate an appropriate pick-up point. Avoid blocking streets and backing up traffic when picking up your child.
• Avoid talking on your cellular phone as this can cause you to be a distracted driver.
• DO NOT TEXT OR EMAIL WHILE YOU DRIVE.
• Be alert for children in or around the roadway. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO STOP.

It is also important for students to take proper safety precautions. Parents are encouraged to teach their children how to get to and from school safely by:

• Knowing the route to and from school and always using this designated route.
• Walking on the sidewalk when available.
• Walking on the far left side of the street, facing traffic, if there is no sidewalk and it is necessary to walk in the roadway.
• Using crosswalks and designated school crossings whenever possible.
• Obeying all traffic laws and wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle.
• Knowing where your child’s designated bus stop is and teaching your child which bus they should get on.
• TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO NOT GO HOME WITH OR TALK WITH STRANGERS.
• TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO NOT GO HOME WITH ANYONE WITHOUT PARENT’S PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL. This includes people who your child knows.
• CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER GET IN A VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE, WITH ANYONE, WITHOUT PARENT’S PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL.
• Teach your children to always follow the pre-arranged plan for getting home.
• Children should not go home with a classmate or someone else without prior approval from their parents.
• Children should go straight home or to the pre-arranged location for after school care.
• Parents should know how long it takes their child to get to and from school. Parents should check in with their child to make sure they made it home from school safely.
• Parents should know who their children’s friends are and where they live.


The Nevada Police Department will conduct regular patrols around all of the schools to monitor traffic and assist motorists and pedestrians in getting safely in and out of these school zones.

The Nevada Police Department also wants to remind parents of the police department’s child safety seat program. The police department can provide parents with helpful tips on how to properly use these seats. The police department also has a limited number of child safety seats available to donate to low-income families.

Stay Safe Nevada!

____________________________________________________________
NEVADA POLICE
DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF – MICHAEL W. TUPPER
515.382.4593
pdchief@midiowa.net

PRESS RELEASE

Burglaries and Thefts


Date: Friday, August 13, 2010


The Nevada Police Department would like to remind businesses and citizens alike to be proactive in safeguarding your property and possessions. Business owners/managers, check the status of your alarms to be sure that they are working properly, and activated for the appropriate times. Within the last few weeks, Nevada has had a business burglarized and it was found that the alarm had not been activated.

If you have equipment, which can easily be moved, secure it. Recently, earth moving equipment along with the trailer it was sitting on, was stolen. The culprit backed a truck up to the unsecured trailer, hitched it to their truck, and then drove away with the trailer and the expensive piece of equipment. This can happen with boat trailers, tankers, and anything else that can be hitched to a truck or tractor.

For citizens and businesses, do not ever leave keys in your vehicles whether at home in the garage, on the farm, outside a business, or inside your business. It may be an inconvenience to take the keys with you, but so is the filing of a police report and the replacement of the stolen property.

If you have questions or would like a Nevada officer to stop by and provide some information on preventive measures, please contact the Nevada Police Department at 515-382-4503.



Ricardo Martinez II
Sergeant
Nevada Police Department
____________________________________________________________

NEVADA POLICE
DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF – MICHAEL W. TUPPER
515.382.4593
pdchief@midiowa.net

PRESS RELEASE

Date: Friday, August 13, 2010, at 08:00 a.m.

Nevada Police Department Partners with Iowa Law Enforcement on Impaired Driving Crackdown

Beginning later this month, the Nevada Police Department will partner with other Iowa law enforcement agencies and sworn officers from across the country in stepping up enforcement efforts and cracking down on those who elect to drive drunk or impaired. The problem of impaired-driving is a serious one. While America witnessed a decline in the number of impaired-driving fatalities from 2007-2008, the numbers are still too high. The crackdown on impaired driving, scheduled for August 24th–September 6th, is known by its tagline: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

In 2009 Iowa reported 372 fatalities, of which 92 were alcohol related. Nationally, in 2008 nearly 12,000 people died in crashes with a driver or motorcycle rider that was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The group with the highest percent of alcohol impaired drivers in fatal crashes is young people ages 21-24.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this reckless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. We’ll be especially vigilant during high-risk nighttime hours when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Iowa sTEP Coordinator Randy Hunefeld.

In every state and the District of Columbia it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Approximately 10,000 enforcement agencies will participate in this year’s mid-August through Labor Day crackdown, including law enforcement from every state, the District of Columbia, and thousands of U.S. cities and towns.

Violators often face jail time and the loss of their driver licenses or are sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates also go up. Other financial losses include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of a job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you will be under arrest,” said Hunefeld.

For more information, please visit www.iowagtsb.org and www.StopImpairedDriving.org or contact:

Michael W. Tupper
Chief of Police
Nevada Police Department
1209 6th Street, P.O. Box 530
Nevada, Iowa 50201
515.382.4593
pdchief@midiowa.net