The second session of the EPD Citizens Police Academy is now under my belt, along with a jammin’ batch of tiramisú I made last week, but that’s a whole different story.

The speakers at this past week’s Citizens Police Academy were Sgt. Jim Daniel of the one-man Criminal Intelligence Unit, Inspector Jim DeDionisio of Internal Affairs, Lt. Kirk Werner of the Office of Community Affairs, Officer Doug Keys of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and Sgt. Stan Tuznik.

In a nutshell, here’s what we learned:

Criminal Intelligence

The Criminal Intelligence Unit encompasses several different areas, including statistics and database management, crime reports and mapping, computer access and security, tracking Megan Law offenders, graffiti interpretation and monitoring, gang intelligence, and special investigations (this includes the NBTF – Nuisance Bar Task Force).

Sgt. Daniel spent quite a bit of his time talking about gangs.  Organized gangs, like the Crips, Bloods, Folks, People, and BGD are not a big problem in Erie, other than the occasional transient recruiters.  Erie has lesser organized gangs that don’t have the constitutions/charters like the more organized ones.  Erie also doesn’t have a big problem with motorcycle gangs.  They do exist to some extent in the area, but, for the most part, they are also transient.

Gang members, who are usually between 14-21 years old, join gangs for myriad reasons, including peer pressure and acceptance, excitement, money, protection, and to socialize.

Parents, teachers, and other adults who are around children on a regular basis should know the signs of gang activity and be on the lookout for any of these behaviors/signs:

• significant negative behaviors – getting into trouble
• a change in clothing choices
• tattoos
• use of hand signs
• carrying weapons
• unexplained cash
• gang graffiti

Additionally, parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults need to pay attention to the children and young adults around them so that any signs of gang or delinquent/criminal activity can be addressed immediately.  Observe your children and, if something doesn’t seem quite right, investigate.  Set a good example.  Give children/young adults clear limits and boundaries.  Teach them what is acceptable behavior and what is not.  And get your kids involved in legitimate groups (church groups, sports, and other positive organizations) before they get bored and find a less desirable group to hang out with.

Internal Affairs

The Department of Internal Affairs handles community complaints against police officers.

Complaint forms are made available to citizens at a variety of locations, including on-line, at District Magistrates’ offices, at the front desk of the Police Department, via old fashioned snail mail, and, when necessary, complaint forms can be hand delivered.

Complaints are filed for a variety of offenses ranging from police brutality to discourtesy and poor service and there are an average of 20-25 complaints filed per year.  However, thus far into 2010, 12 complaints have already been filed.

Complaints filed initially go to the mayor.  He then passes them on the Internal Affairs, where the complaint is given a tracking number and assigned to an investigator.  The Complainant is then usually contacted by the investigator within 24 hours of the filing of the Complaint.

There are four possible dispositions for Complaints:

• sustained (there was a violation)
• not sustained (a violation was neither proved nor disproved)
• unfounded (no violation occurred)
• exonerated (the incident complained of occurred, but the action complained of was proper)

Office of Community Affairs

The EPD Office of Community Affairs handles the media and Lt. Kirk Werner is the Public Information Officer.  In addition to the media, Lt. Werner also deals with Neighborhood Watch groups in the City (there are currently 60 groups city-wide).  He is also involved in the Safe Passages Program, which puts officers at City schools at dismissal time; saturation patrols, which involve officers patrolling target areas on foot; the Neighborhood Action Team; and the NBFT – Nuisance Bar Task Force.

And, as long as we were on the topic of the NBFT, we had a speaker who is not a member of the EPD.  Officer Doug Keys works for the Pennsylvania State Police and is the PLCB officer assigned to cover Erie County.  Unfortunately, he also covers six other counties in northwestern Pennsylvania (a total of some 13,000 licensed establishments), so his time in Erie is limited.

Nuisance bars are a big problem in the City of Erie… especially if you happen to have the misfortune of living near one.  According to Officer Keys, the best way to take the nuisance out of the bar is to keep good records/notes.  If there is loud music coming from the bar*, write down the date and time (time started/time ended), what songs were playing (or maybe it’s just thumping bass), and, if possible, made a video-audio tape.

Is there drinking going on outside the establishment?  Again, keep a log of dates, times, descriptions of individuals, and, if possible, take pictures or video.

Are there fights in or outside of the bar?

Are VIPs (Visibly Intoxicated Patrons) leaving the establishment?

Again, to help the PSP and the PLCB make a case against a nuisance bar, they need as much information and documentation as possible.

If you live in an area where there is a nuisance bar and you want to do something about it, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT… and then contact Officer Keys at: dokeys@state.pa.us.

Sgt. Tuznik was the last of our speakers, and he discussed his involvement with the tobacco compliance law that makes it illegal to supply minors with cigarettes.  In an effort to crack down on stores that are selling cigarettes to minors, the police employ kids from Central High School and the Police Explorers.  They send the kids into stores to attempt to purchase cigarettes.  This program was started in 2002, but is currently suspended due to a lack of funds.  However, it’s due to start up again in April.

Interestingly, while it is illegal to supply a minor with tobacco products, it is not illegal for minors to smoke.  Police cannot touch a minor who’s puffing away.

Sgt. Tuznik is also in charge of school crossing guards – the adults who attempt to get kids to and from school without getting hit by cars.  The number of crossing guards assigned to each school depends upon the location of the school.  There are four schools in the City of Erie that, due to their location, have no adult crossing guards.

The cost of the crossing guards ($18/day/guard) is paid half by the City of Erie and half by the Erie School District.

Finally, and interestingly, citizens are permitted to do ride-alongs with police officers.  There is an application process, but it sounds relatively painless.  Once I’m done with this seminar, I might just apply.

*“Loud music” is defined as any amplified music that can be heard on the exterior of the premises.

** Can anyone name the movie from which this quote was snagged?