.gif)
NEW ULM – More than a hundred residents were present for a presentation from the Austin County Sheriff’s office on how they can support police in Austin and Colorado counties to keep the area safe amidst a rash of recent criminal activity.
Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes along with several high-ranking deputies presented several tips to the residents intending to bring awareness to how they can prevent crime in their neighborhoods. Those in attendance got the benefit of the department’s second goal: to give a face to the names of some of the officers they may encounter.
Brandes and his deputies expressed the importance of communication with the police and neighbors.
According to Brandes, residents who call in fire, criminal or medical emergencies with the 911 emergency line are “the eyes and ears” for the police forces dispatched to address the situation. He implored residents to stay on the phone with the dispatcher and expressed the importance of constantly providing the dispatcher with information as the situation unfolds.
“If you have a bad guy trying to break into your house, we need to know where he’s at,” Brandes said.
This information aids enforcement officers to help them understand the situation as they approach. According to Brandes, this increases the safety and effectiveness of officers.
Non-emergency calls for suspicious behavior were also discussed as a way residents can help keep the area crime free. Questionable activity by an unfamiliar vehicle can potentially lead to an investigation or a temporarily heightened patrol if reported.
“If you happen to see a strange vehicle that you think doesn’t look right, tell us about it,” Brandes said.
The deputies present told the residents that communication with their neighbors is just as important. Keeping neighbors informed with authorized visitors can help them keep watch over properties even when residents are away.
Sheriff Brandes also expressed the importance of locking vehicles at night and taking the keys inside the house. He emphasized the importance of locking vehicles to gun owners who carry weapons inside their cars and trucks. He suggested that the gun be taken inside and potentially locked in a safe overnight, but he also expressed that if they are going to be carried in the vehicle, it is crucial that the doors are locked at night.
Brandes spoke on the relationship between the Austin County and Colorado County Sheriff’s departments as both forces freely aid the other, often without prior request. The joint coverage of both departments helps response times if one experiences a shortage of available officers.
The cooperation between the two departments along with several other local police departments has long been an important part of law enforcement in the area.
