Dear residents,

A few weeks ago I spent a valuable five days training in a specialized child safety program called radKIDS®.

Endorsed by Ed Smart, the father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, the program strives to empower children and teach them how to learn to replace fear, confusion and panic in dangerous situations with confidence, personal safety skills and self-esteem.

The radKIDS® techniques are being adopted by parents, teachers and police officers around the U.S., and I will be incorporating this training into our ongoing "Safety 1st 4Kids" programs here in Johns Creek.

In other news, the JCPD is now affiliated with the A Child Is Missing (ACIM) early alert system, which helps law enforcement agencies locate children, Alzheimer's patients, the disabled and college campus students within the first minutes/hours they go missing.

ACIM works via a rapid-response neighborhood alert program utilizing high-speed telephone systems. It can place 1,000 calls to law enforcement agencies around the U.S. in just sixty seconds, process multiple cases simultaneously and work without jurisdictional boundaries.

In closing, our April Child Safety Open House was so successful we're having another one:

• When:  May 20 at 6:30 pm
• Where:  JCPD Headquarters, 11445 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30097
• RSVP:  678-474-1561 or Kathy.Shiplett@JohnsCreekGA.gov

It's FREE. Please bring your children and learn safety techniques.

Stay safe,

Sgt. Debra Kalish
Community Services

P.S.  If you received this copy from someone else, sign up here to get your own copy each month.

Two highly-trained, all-purpose new recruits from the Czech Republic join the JCPD patrol force and go by their first names only: Nico and Dano.

Nico and Dano are highly trained police dogs and they, along with their handlers, Cpl. James Zebley and Officer George Hodge, make up the Department's new K-9 Unit, reporting to Lt. Nick Curry in Uniform Patrol. Read more.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month - a time to help educate and strengthen families and increase the awareness of the crime of child abuse and how to respond to it.

Child abuse may occur physically, sexually and/or emotionally and child neglect may occur physically and/or emotionally. Understanding the forms of child abuse and neglect is critical to preventing and responding to both problems.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Police will respond and they will follow-up with the Division of Family and Children Services, the state agency designated to protect children from abuse. If there is no immediate danger, call DFCS at 404-206-5300.

Also, the Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 is staffed 24/7 with professional crisis counselors who can access a database of 55,000 emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous.

Americans reported a total $265 million dollar loss from internet crimes in 2008, up from $239 million the year before and up from $68 million in 2004, according to the newly released 2008 Annual Report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The report (compiled in partnership with the FBI) shows that a total of 275,284 complaints were received, 33% more than in 2007. The average individual loss was $931.

The following websites provide helpful information on ways to protect your personal information and preventing identity theft:

• Mailing/Catalog Lists
• Pre-Screened Credit Offers
• Solicitation Calls
• Privacy Information

• FBI:  Oprah's Millionaire Contest
• FBI:  Fake military twist on online vehicle sales
• FBI:  Work-at-home online scams
• Georgia Power:  Impostor employees getting customers' credit card information
• Craigslist scam safety:  JCPD detectives report increase in complaints.

Special Olympics athlete Ashley Lebovitz has been chosen the Johns Creek Police Special Olympics Ambassador for 2009.

Lebovitz, a Johns Creek resident, will assist the Johns Creek Police Department in all of its fundraising events for the 23rd annual Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Read more.

Top 5 roads for accidents:

1. Medlock Bridge (24)
2. State Bridge (17)
3. Abbotts Bridge (14)
4. Old Alabama (12)
5. Jones Bridge (10)

Top 5 Intersections for accidents:

1. Medlock Bridge & State Bridge
2. State Bridge & Jones Bridge
3. Medlock Bridge & Abbotts Bridge
4. Jones Bridge & Abbotts Bridge
5. Medlock Bridge & Bell Road

Burglaries (Total 18):  Dentist Office at 11130 State Bridge (1), Public Storage (1), Carlyle Commons (1), Northwood Shopping Center (3), Abbotts Bridge Commons (2), Pharmaforce (1), Shops of Douglas (2), Addison Place (1), Century of State Bridge (1) Chelsea Ridge Apts. (1), Rivermont (1), Camden River Apts. (1), Foxdale (1), Country Club of the South (1).

Entering Autos (Total: 9):  Country Club of the South (1), Colony Glen (1), Perimeter Church (1), Chartwell (1), Home Depot (1), Hyatt Place Hotel (1), Southern Orthopedic Specialists (2), The Forum Athletic Club (1).