Monthy Archives 2000
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Monthy Archives 2000
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August 2000School AgainCan you believe it’s August already? Almost time for school again. And with school comes things like school shopping, the latest fashions that every one else is wearing. Not the twenty dollar jeans, but the sixty dollar pair. Shoes can’t be worn unless they are a hundred and fifty dollar pair of Nike’s or Doc Martins…. I say I don’t understand the children today, but I guess after talking with my parents, we weren’t any different when we were growing up. I’m sounding like my Parents!!! Help Me. No more sleeping in; Fights in the morning for the bathroom; Homework and more homework. The list for school starting goes on and on. One part of school starting this fall I want to address, is the responsibility we all must take to insure the safety of our kids. There are a number of questions that come up and items we have to deal with every year. School buses will be running to pick up our kids or letting them off. All drivers, even if you’re late for work or school, need to watch for the buses and heed their lights and stop signs. You are required to stop while approaching from the rear and front of the bus, on all roads in the Cody area. It does not matter if you are on a four lane road or if there is a turn lane present, you must stop. Citations will be issued for those violations that are observed or reported. Remember the school zones, they are 20 mph. Please be observant when the children are on their way to school or home afterwards. They may not be paying attention and could easily run out in front of you. Please watch the crossing guards and heed their signals for you to stop or go. They are there to cross our children whose safety is in their hands. For those who are walking and riding bikes to school, there are many roads in Cody that have no sidewalks present. When walking on a road with no sidewalks, walk on the left side, against traffic. This is so you can see what is coming and not accidentally walk out in front of a passing vehicle. Bikes are to be ridden on the streets, not on the sidewalks. They must follow the same rules of the road as a motor vehicle. Ride on the right side of the road as close to the curb as possible. Signal when making a turn and do not cut across the road in the middle of the block. Be courteous to other drivers and don’t assume they can see you. Remember, you are small compared to a vehicle and hard to see. One of the most productive things that we as parents can do for our children is be an active part of their lives. Talk with them. Be able to communicate with them and learn what they are thinking and feeling. Ask what they are doing in school and how they are doing. Offer to help or assist in getting help if they need it. Know where they will be and who they will be with. Know their friends and daily activities. If any of these change it is time to ask why. Many of us are so busy with our own lives, we tend to let our children fend for themselves, and not be there for them during the most difficult time of their lives. A time where there is so much change and growth and so many decisions to be made that affect the rest of their lives. In closing, I have talked with Rick Dutcher, the School Resource Officer, and he is looking forward to seeing the kids back in school. I hope you have had a great summer and enjoy the Month of August. Take some time to play and enjoy life. Sergeant Steven Penwell
September 2000Cody School Resource Officer, Rick Dutcher, returned to his duties with the school district on August 14th. Officer Dutcher continued work on the evolutionary process of school preparedness in the event of an emergency. Officer Dutcher and school officials met with the Cody Police Department Administration, Emergency Medical Services, the Cody Fire Department and the Director of the Emergency Operations Center. Procedures on responding to an emergency at the Cody High School were finalized. Additionally, Officer Dutcher is meeting with the Principals of all the Cody schools in making our children safer. The Cody High School now has an alarm specifically designed for an emergency such as a violent intruder. The High School will practice emergency drills directly related to the installation of the new alarm system. Procedures for responding to an emergency will be under constant review and subject to upgrades. This is the start of the third year for Officer Dutcher as the School Resource Officer. His challenges over the past two years have been quite diversified. Stories range from rushing students who are in labor to the emergency room, to mediating conflicts between students. Officer Dutcher is always anxious to visit with parents who may have questions regarding drug and alcohol use by their children. One of the many options he provides to parents is a free and immediate confidential drug test for the child at the parents request. The drug test results are provided verbally to the parents without fear of criminal prosecution or formal records on their children. The goal of this testing is to assist the parents and student in staying drug free. Many times over the last two years, and already this year, parents have brought illegal drugs to Officer Dutcher's office in the High School. Frequently parents find these drugs in the child's room or vehicle. At these times Officer Dutcher meets with the parents and student. Options are provided and the parents choose which option they feel best suits their child. Officer Dutcher is also available to speak at any local organization and answer questions regarding the School Resource Officer position or questions about the Cody's youth. Officer Dutcher's office is the first and second door to the right as you enter Cody Cody High School from the Beck Avenue side of the school. is phone number and voice mail at the school is 587-7025. If you need him during non school hours please call the Cody Police Department at 527-8700. Officer Rick Dutcher
October 2000Domestic Violence, Culture, or Both?When they were dating, he was wonderful! He was always there with her and wanted to do everything for her. He said she was his life. He seemed to have given up his friends for her and the activities that meant so much to him. Everything they did was together. He was so attentive and thoughtful. What more could a woman ask for? But shortly into the relationship, he was back with his friends and back doing the things he use to do before they met. He owed it to his friends to be with them and to help them. After all, they were his friends. They would do the same for him. He had to go hunting because they needed the meat, and that is what men did. The same went with fishing, going to the hills and going to the bars. He needed his time alone and away from the stress of life and home. He needed her to stay at home and take care of the place while he was gone, and be there for him when he returned. She needed to have the yard work done, the meals prepared, the house cleaned, the kids cared for so he didn't have to worry about any of that after a hard day at work. Besides, that is all women's work. She needed to be able to plan a big get together at a moments notice when his friends were invited over for a party. She doesn't work so it isn't a problem to get up at 3:00 AM to fix breakfast for the boys. She'll have sex when and where he wants to; she'll take care of her wifely duties. She can't go out with her friends because they need to be with his friends. Her friends are bad news anyway; she doesn't need to socialize with such riff raff. She better not try and see them, or he will find out and then there will be hell to pay. She will be accused of sleeping around on him, she will be nothing but a whore. If she wants to act like a whore he will treat her like a whore. He will tell her where she can and can't go. She needs to remember that they are a couple, his friends are her friends, she will do as he asks. Her family doesn't support them or love them like his family does, besides, he owes it to his family to be with them. He needs her at home too much for her to go and visit her family, he is her family now. He lets her know that their relationship should be her top priority, not her family or any thing else. (Not even her self). She doesn't dare speak up to him, because he'll show her he's always right, she's wrong. She better be glad she's married to him because no one else would want her the way she looks and acts. She's nothing with out him. No one would take care of her the way he does. But because he's the one who works, he will decide how the money is spent. She just stay's at home and doesn't contribute so why should she have any input. Being at home she doesn't really have a need for extras. What he has is his and what she has is his also. He had never hit her until today. He didn't mean to, she just pushed him too far. He won't ever do it again… Why can't she understand what she needs to do to make this relationship work? This is a scenario that is played out over and over. Why? Is it because our culture enables this type of behavior? We live in a world that is focused on the male gender, a "patriarchal society". The man dominates society and always has. The attitude here in the West seems to endorse this philosophy even more. Men believe they have a "self " worth defending and are entitled to their space in the word. Pity the fool who threatens their space or the effort to control the women's space. Women are here on Earth to serve man, to assure that his needs, wants and desires are met. We teach our children at a very early age that the man is the bread winner. He is the all powerful, the protector. All space at all times belong to the man. We as men need to protect the women for they are unable to protect themselves. Our society acknowledges that women are the weaker sex, both physically and mentally. Seldom do you see women reach the same or greater ranks than men. Nor are they given the same respect as men. If a woman does report an assault, she is often the one that is held responsible or blamed for using bad judgment: "Why did you put your self in that situation?", "Why did you anger him?", "Why did you dress like that?". How many times have you heard "she had it coming" or "she really wanted it". Does this sound like a man talking? As long as we endorse relationships that are based on power and control, and not love and respect, we will always have Domestic Violence. We need to look at what our present culture holds for our future and ask ourselves if this is where we as a society want to go or if this is the future we want for our children. Interesting facts to support the above:
May God protect us all
Sergeant Steven Penwell
Happy Halloween from the Cody Police Department
Cody is a wonderful and beautiful place to live, and has a multitude of reasons that make it so special to us. The wide open spaces, clean air, majestic mountains, a wide array of wildlife, and scenery which rivals any in the country. All of this we enjoy every day and sometimes take for granted. They are all at risk if we don't take proper care of them. Our children are something else that we have to enjoy and are a greater resource than all the resources listed above. Our children, like our community, are also at risk if not properly cared for. Halloween, All Hallows Night, or All Souls Night, is the night before All Saints Day, a religious holiday. What started as strictly a religious observance, became influenced with fears, superstitions and traditions, and evolved into what we know today as Halloween. Halloween as we know it today is a day full of festivities for the children. Carving Jack o Lanterns, pumpkin pie, and of course "Trick or Treating". The children are in Costumes, some quite elaborate. They are out and about the neighborhoods seeking their bounty, many still out after dark. What is meant to be good fun can be quite dangerous to the children. The "Trick" part of Halloween has also caused some problems with theft and property damage, which can be frustrating and expensive for innocent citizens. I will attempt to address some of the problems and solutions for you here. When trick or treating, all children should be accompanied by an adult or an older responsible individual. If a child is too old to be with an adult, they are probably too old to be trick or treating. The older children should attend organized, supervised and non alcoholic parties or activities. Children should travel in groups as they are easier to see. They should travel with friends and neighbors and use a buddy system so no one gets lost or left. They should Always walk and not run. Many of the costumes can become entangled in the child's feet and can cause a fall with serious injuries. Many of the children can't see properly due to their costumes and may trip or cause another to fall. They should always stay to the sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks available in the neighborhood they are in, they should walk on the left side of the street, walking toward oncoming traffic. That allows them to see what is coming toward them so they won't inadvertently walk out into traffic. They should use the cross walks and intersections. Remember pedestrians are hard to see, especially at dusk or at night. Children should be extra careful and always look before entering the street. Keep the costumes simple and use properly fitting shoes and boots. Loose fitting or long and large costumes can cause children to trip and fall. They also inhibit a child's ability to move properly. Costumes and the bags they carry should be light colored and have reflective material so they are highly visible. Use costumes that can accommodate warm clothing and coats, as many of our Halloweens are on snowy days. Avoid the use of real props, such as guns, knives, swords etc. These are not only dangerous, but can be hard to hold, taking away the use of one of the child's hands. Carry an illumination device such as a flashlight, electric lantern or Calamine stick. Avoid carrying any burning objects. Do not use masks that hinder the child's sight. Painted faces are much safer. If a mask is used, do not have it on while traveling, instead have them pull it on once they are at the door. 
The costume on the right it bright colored, allows for plenty of movement and has a painted face which does not interfere with a child's sight. 
The costume on the left is dark colored, interferes with vision, and has a weapon which could be dangerous to the child. After they have gathered their bounty, save it until they are at home where it can be checked by an adult. Check candy wrappers and packages for signs of tampering. Heat sealed wrappers are much safer than twisted or wrapped candies. Candy not in a wrapper should never be eaten. Any fruit received should be inspected for cuts and puncture marks. It should always be cut and washed before eating. If any of your bounty looks suspicious, please notify us at the Police Department. Parents: Only give home made treats to children you personally know, others should have sealed treats. If you are going to use home made treats, advise the other parents of what you are giving so they are aware when they check their child's bag. Leave your porch lights on so the children can see, and keep the porch uncluttered. Avoid burning lanterns and candles on the porch or where children could brush against them. Lock up your pets. Many pets are protective of their residences. With so many goblins showing up at the door, they may become frightened and the likely hood of a child getting bitten is increased. To avoid vandalisms through out this holiday, keep your valuables put up and out of sight. Keep your property well lit. If not at home, have your residence properly secured. Please notify the Police Department of any suspicious activity or problem that occurs. We at the Cody Police Department wish you all a happy Halloween, and thank you for your help in making it a safe one as well. Sergeant Steven Penwell
November 2000Cat owner responsibilities inside the City Limits The City of Cody has an at large ordinance for cats as well as dogs. Any cat that strays from it's residence is considered at large and is subject to capture by the officers and subject to a $25.00 fine. The purpose of this ordinance is to hold cat owners as responsible for their pets as dog owners. Cats are required to have current rabies vaccinations attached to a collar. This is not only for the safety of the cat but anyone that the cat comes into contact with. This also helps the Community Service Officer return the animal to it's rightful owner. I currently make every attempt to return an animal to it's owners before taking them to the shelter. If the owner is not home, I transport them to the shelter and make attempts to leave a message for the owner that the animal has been taken to the shelter. The Community Service Officer does issue traps to residents when there becomes a cat problem in their area. Any resident can call the Cody Police Department and be placed on an availability list for a humane live trap. When a trap becomes available, the Community Service Officer brings a trap to the resident, shows them how to bait and set it, where to place it and instructions on when to check it. If a cat is caught in the trap, the resident is instructed to call the Cody Police Department, day or night, and an officer will come out and pick up the cat. The department has not and does not tell residents it is legal to trap and kill cats that come onto their property. We do tell them that we will issue them a trap and we will take the cats once they are trapped. When cats are trapped, they are taken to the shelter for redemption by the owner. If they are not claimed within six days, they are turned over to the Humane Society to try to adopt them out. If a cat is determined to be feral (wild), they may be humanely euthanized. This is for the safety of the officers handling the animal, humane society employees and for the heath and welfare of city residents. Cats carry a variety of diseases when they are not properly vaccinated. Feral cats and skunks will den together and can pass rabies as well as a variety of other transferable diseases between them. Any person coming into contact with these animals can contract rabies or other infections when bitten or scratched. Officers that pick up cats that have been trapped are at risk every time they take an animal to the shelter. If the cat has no collar or tag, we are unable to determine if it has been vaccinated, if it has been exposed to other feline diseases, if it carries other transferable diseases, or if it is tame or wild. Take the time to vaccinate and collar your pets. These pets will be returned to you rather than taken to the humane society. This saves you money and protects our officers on the streets. Rayna Wortham, Community Service Officer December 2000Shopping Safety for ConsumersThanksgiving is over and now is the rush to get the rest of your Christmas shopping done. As I write this, people are lining up at Walmart for the 6:00 AM opening. Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and shopping for your loved ones is part of the whole Christmas spirit. Along with the fun and festivities, always comes some disappointment when you realize someone took advantage of you, and you are now out financially or out your merchandise. Hopefully I can give a few hints to keep you from being the one disappointed. First, know your merchandise. Know what you want to buy. Shop and compare. Is the item an original or a copy? Is the price comparable with other dealers? Would seconds serve the same purpose? Is the merchandise defective? And finally, ask about the return policy for the item. If it is defective or if it won't work, can it be returned? Don't be a victim of a hard sale. Manage your money. The first thing I would advise is to be discreet with your money. Don't carry large amounts of cash at one time, and don't flash it where others can see the amount you are carrying. Don't become distracted or frustrated when handling your cash. Count carefully and stay focused. Where do you carry your cash? Men, don't carry billfolds in your rear pockets. They are easily taken without your knowledge. Try and avoid pockets in outer garments such as coats. These are usually loose fitting and easily gotten into. Women, when carrying a purse, keep the flap securely fastened, and wrap the purse strap or place it around your neck so it can't be easily pulled away. Many of the same tips apply to your credit cards. Be discreet with them. Do not carry several at one time and always have a list of your credit card numbers and contacts in case they are lost or stolen. If the store uses carbon copy receipts, make sure you take the carbon with you. Request on the signature line of the card that the clerk check for Identification prior to using the card. Credit cards are often more convenient than cash, but can be much more expensive in the long run. Know your credit limit and do not spend over your limit. Try not to charge more than you can pay off the next month. Keep receipts to check against your bill when you receive it. It's hard enough to pay for your own purchases without having to pay for something you didn't buy. Many of us are doing our Christmas shopping either by phone, for a catalogue order, or using the internet and it's vast resources. You can get some exceptional buys this way, but there are some definite rules:
Some special concerns for the internet shopper:
I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to let me know. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. My best wishes to you all Sergeant Steven Penwell How can you Prevent Shoplifting?The Christmas season is here, the shoppers will be out in force. It is almost impossible not to get caught up in the spirit of Christmas with the wonderful music, the lights and decorations. This is the season of giving to those you love and to those less fortunate than you. It is the season to be thankful for all you have been blessed with. This is truly a joyous season for all, and usually a profitable season for the business owner. However, this is also a season where the shoplifter will take advantage of the hustle and bustle of Christmas. What can we do to lessen the losses of the shoplifter? There are four areas I would like you to look at. First, look at the layout of your business. Is it fairly open and easy to scan, or is it cut up with multiple areas or rooms with lots of nooks and crannies? Is the merchandise spread out or is it placed in tightly? Do you have high shelves and lots of isles? It is desirable to have a showroom floor that is open and easy to scan, one that makes it difficult for a shoplifter to escape detection. Have smaller items and more expensive items in showcases that can be secured. Second, are you staffed to cover your business? Do you have the staff to cover separate rooms, floors or areas? Do you have extra staff for the busy seasons like Christmas? Do you have staff that can monitor the fitting rooms? Shoplifters take advantage of understaffed businesses by evading the sales people, or distracting them so accomplices can take the merchandise. With out proper monitoring, it is easy to layer clothing in the fitting rooms if not monitored by staff. You should know what goes in and what comes out of the fitting rooms. Third, do you have store security and if so, what kind? If you are large enough, in store security personnel may be necessary. Many larger businesses may use uniformed security, but part time security personnel in the busy seasons work very well. You may try personnel who pretend to be shoppers and just wonder the store. Mirrors work to help monitor hidden spots. I would also suggest the use of video cameras. Merchandise monitoring systems are highly effective, not only in catching the shoplifter, but also as a deterrent. To the shoplifter, the higher the chance of getting caught, the less likely they are to shoplift. Shoplifting is often a crime of opportunity. Finally, learn to recognize the shoplifter. A shoplifter is often nervous and is always watching others to see who may be watching them. They may wear sunglasses to help disguise their constant watching. They may handle the merchandise roughly, more interested in who is watching them than in the merchandise itself. When you see this, it is a stark difference from the real shopper. If you see someone drop an object and crouch down to pick it up, they may be attempting to hide another object on their person. Be aware of those who take merchandise off of the hangers. It is much easier to conceal an item off of the hanger. A shoplifter may brush you off, not wanting your presence. They often keep their back to you. On the other side, be aware of someone who seems overly friendly and talks of nothing important. They may be trying to gain your confidence in their character. How could someone so friendly and open to you steal from you? Be aware of large groups who may try to divide and conquer. Don't be pulled away and distracted. Don't be fooled by people buying merchandise, especially large bulky items. It is easy to conceal other items in the merchandise they are buying. Learn to check the bulkier items for possible hidden merchandise. Watch for people coming in with large amount of packages. They may look like honest shoppers but you don't know if they are actual packages. With the same thought, don't over look the business suit. A well dressed business person or some one who appears well to do, can shoplift as well as anyone else. Unfortunately, people will also use their children to aid in their shoplifting. They will hide merchandise in strollers and diaper bags. They will give items to their children to carry out. If the child is caught, they can blame the child for the theft and more often than not, escape any consequence for the attempted theft. I hope this article is food for thought. If you would like further assistance in protecting your business, please contact us for a personal visit to your business. We would be glad to give you suggestions for your individual needs. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe Holiday Season. Sergeant Steven Penwell
Merry Christmas
With the Holiday Season upon us, and Christmas now a week a way, I would like to take this opportunity to remind us all, of the real spirit of Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Teachings state that his life, and death, were a gift to us. He lived to teach of truth and stewardship, and how to live in the light of his father. He taught of the importance of the gifts of his father; the world we live in, the relationships that have been fostered, and the knowledge he has allowed to be absorbed. He died for the salvation of those who believed, so that they may live, forever, for he knew that none of us were perfect. If we all live in the spirit of those teachings, live to do what is right, honor the gifts given to us, and give of ourselves to those who are less fortunate, our world will be a better and safer place for us and our children to live. True believing, following what we feel deep in our hearts, and giving up on cynicism and doubt. True love, for ourselves and for others. I believe all this is the spirit of Christmas... and also the ultimate in community policing. From all of us at the Cody Law Enforcement Center, have a healthy, happy and safe holiday season.
Sergeant Steven Penwell
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