Officer Jon Ishmael #353Kirkland Police Department

Neighborhood Resource Officer

Hear what neighbors are concerned about.

Understand what is going on in the Highlands.

Provide information on what the PD is currently doing.

Explain what resources we do, and do not, have.

Basic crime prevention. Share some statistics.

Great Community that stays in touch. 3 ways into the neighborhood by car. Close to the freeway for easy access

and regress. Approximately 41 houses on the

market for sale. Approximately 2500 people in the

Highland Neighborhood.

April 13th through July 13th

• 4 burglaries• 2 MV theft• 1 theft, Malicious Mischief, MV prowl, Q.A.• 1 drug arrest in park on viewed by officer

(7-2-10)• 0 Robberies

Patrol (The backbone)• Roughly 6-10 officers on patrol per shift

Detectives • 8 full time detectives

Proact Unit (4 undercover) • Cut due to budget

Eastside Narcotics Task Force• 1 full time detective

Traffic Division• 4 full time traffic officers

City Code Enforcement• Water, garbage, electrical, etc.

US Postal Service

Graffiti specialist (425) 587-3824

Law Enforcement information sharing

Patrol starts to see certain crimes increase in a specific location

Neighbors start to talk and notice others have also been victims

A few houses are brought to the attention of officers. Either by dispatched calls, on view suspicious activity, or neighbors calling 911.

The mass collection of information begins

Who is living in the house Contact landlords, King County property websites,

license plates, traffic stops, talk with neighbors, knock and talk, etc.

Run names for criminal history, M.O., Associates, local history.

Time and dates of activity

Touch base with Fire, Code Enforcement, Building, etc.

Inform landlord of concerns• Eviction can take up to 60 days

Share information with patrol, detectives, ENTF, and Proact (starting 2011)

Request extra patrol

Start Code Enforcement investigation

Pay more attention to them then they want

February 2010 Domestic Disturbance call• Gathered all names of people living in the house• Contact landlord addressing concerns of the

property and renters• Began extra patrol on, and around, the property• Main problem child moved out but returned in

May 2010 May 2010 Subject arrested for DV Eviction process started with landlord July 5th all subjects were evicted and

house is currently vacant

The following are Crime Prevention tips to protect, you and your property

Teach you to help the police help you!

Most burglaries can be prevented by the use of good locks, a few tools and simple precautions

No home can be made totally burglarproof (If they want in they will get in)

A home can be made more secure to get the culprit to look for an easier target

Begin with these steps:

Start with your neighborhood. This is your first line of defense

Burglars do not like watchful neighbors

There is strength in numbers

Trim trees and bushes that could hide burglars

Look for trees, ladders or other items near your home that could be used to climb to an upper storey unlocked window

Maintain your yard to give it the lived-in appearance.

Install outside lights to brighten dark areas around doors and windows

Are the house numbers easily visible to emergency personnel (Day or night)

Check your doors, windows and outer outside openings

Outside doors and frames should be made of solid wood or steel

Glass in outside doors should be at least 40 inches from the lock or be unbreakable

Secure all outside doors with deadbolt locks

Ensure that the lock’s throw (or bolt) extends at least one inch past the edge of the door when locked

Install a peephole (180 degrees) on the entrance door

Place a wood stick or metal bar between the frame and sliding door or window.

Give it the lived in look Stop your mail and paper (one day

before leaving) Use light timers Have a neighbor check both the

inside and outside of the house every few days

Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway or designated spot

When in your back yard lock your front door and vice a versa

When in the home, it is a good idea to keep your doors locked

Consider keeping your blinds/curtains closed at night. People can see in and you cannot see out

Favorite targets for burglars Keep windows curtained so thieves

cannot look for items to steal or check to see if your car is there

Keep the garage locked, even when you are home

Disconnect electric garage door opener when on vacation

Great deterrent As long as every access point to the

home is covered A simple sign in the front yard may

encourage the thief to move along

Never leave notes on your door or on the intercom panel indicating your whereabouts or return time - this tells a potential thief how much time they have.

When you go out, leave a radio and a light on, or hook them up to a timer.

Draw curtains or close blinds after dark. When the curtains are open at night, you can't see out, but others can see in.

Do not enter the house in case the burglar is still there.

Use a neighbor’s telephone to call the police by dialing 9-1-1.

Watch your house until the police arrive. Do not touch anything until the police

arrive and finished checking your house Know the serial numbers of your property

All communities are safer when citizens act together

The first step neighbors should take is to work together to become a real community.

Get to know one another. Be familiar with the routines in their

neighborhoods and know their neighbors on sight.

They should also be aware of strangers and know what to do if something or someone looks suspicious.

Good neighbors look out for each other and let others know when they will be away.

Leave keys and emergency phone numbers with a trusted neighbor, friend or relative.

Many people believe that the police do not want to be called if the caller is merely suspicious.

When in doubt -- CALL THE POLICE!

Unusual noises, such as someone screaming for help.

Vehicles moving slowly and randomly through the neighborhood.

A stranger running or walking randomly through the neighborhood.

A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child.

Furniture being removed from homes when the owners are on vacation or at work.

A stranger looking into homes or parked cars. Unusual activities of pets such as the repeated

barking of a dog that is normally quiet. Someone going door to door soliciting who refuses

to provide proper identification.

State your name and address. Describe the event: what, when and where it

happened. Describe people you saw and what they were

doing: male/female, race, approximate age, weight, height, hair color, clothing and any unusual marks or characteristics (such as a limp).

Describe vehicles in the same way: license plates (state in which registered and at least the first three letters or numbers) make, model, color and unusual marks such as dents or broken glass.

Finally, remember, criminals do very well for themselves when good people either become discouraged or do not seem to care.

But crime will remain low in neighborhoods where people are unwilling to tolerate lawlessness and are willing to work with the police, report suspicious activities, and help their neighbors.

(n) Self defense is the action by which a person protects himself from any bodily harm arising out of an encounters or attacks from other person either by protecting him or by blocking the opponents advancement by a counter attack. Self defense is not a crime so accused may be tempted to show their action as self defense to escape punishment

by KING 5 News NWCN.com Posted on July 12, 2010 at 2:43 PM

ONALASKA, Wash. – The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says a man who shot and killed a suspected burglar in April was acting in self-defense and will not be arrested.

Thomas McKenzie, 56, was shot and killed the night of April 19 by the owner of the home, which was still under construction.

Detectives believe McKenzie and his wife burglarized the home earlier in the afternoon. The owner decided to stay there for the night to watch over it.

Later that night, detectives say the owner heard someone outside. He fired several shots at the tires of a suspect vehicle to disable it. The owner then suddenly had two lights shining in his face.

Detectives say the owner "instinctively" fired his gun toward the lights in an attempt to protect himself from what he believed was a threat. Investigators say the owner considered himself in danger because the suspects did not retreat after he shot at their vehicle.

As a result, the sheriff's office says it won't take the homeowner into custody. The case will still be forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether he will face charges.

"Mr. McKenzie’s own actions put him in a situation resulting in his death," said the sheriff's office in a press release. "People have a right to protect themselves, their families, and property in a lawful manner as defined by the laws of this state.  If you create or put yourself in a situation where someone has a legal right to use deadly force against you that is a risk you take."

McKenzie's wife was arrested July 9 for one count of residential burglary and one count of attempted residential burglary for her role in the alleged crimes.

Problem #1- Surviving the deadly encounter

Problem #2- Dealing with the Criminal Justice System

Your actions will always be second guessed; that is how our system is set up

Must articulate that you believed your life was in danger

In 2008, we had 255 burglaries, significantly down from 2007 (when we peaked with 337).  In 2009 we dropped again, to 240 burglaries.  This includes both residential and commercial burglaries. 

Officer Jon Ishmael (425) 587-3451

jishmael@ci.kirkland.wa.us