The public safety professionals of Collier County, along
with the many residents, businesses and organizations of our community, have
children’s safety as our top priority.
We have received reports of several suspicious incidents these past few weeks involving people approaching youth and while most have not involved any outward criminal action, we want to review our updated community safety plan to keep our kids safe and to remind kids and families of stranger safety tips.
If anyone has any information on the incidents reported or sees any suspicious activity in our community, please let us know by calling 239-252-9300, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477.
We have received reports of several suspicious incidents these past few weeks involving people approaching youth and while most have not involved any outward criminal action, we want to review our updated community safety plan to keep our kids safe and to remind kids and families of stranger safety tips.
If anyone has any information on the incidents reported or sees any suspicious activity in our community, please let us know by calling 239-252-9300, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477.
Our updated community safety plan includes proactive
operations, thorough investigations and:
- - Watch While You Work: We have partnerships with businesses and
services that have a large fleet presence on our roads. We encourage employees of these businesses to
let us know if they see something suspicious or potentially dangerous in
neighborhoods or on our roadways. This
includes people or vehicles approaching children in a way that does not look
appropriate.
- - Safety in our Schools: Our CCSO Youth Relations deputies partner
with our school officials to deliver safety messages through classroom
discussion, morning announcements, D.A.R.E. presentations, school bus driver
briefings and many other interactions. Also, our Youth Relations deputies are
patrolling neighborhoods before and after school.
- - Community Awareness and Engagement: Through our social media platforms on
Facebook, Twitter, You Tube channel, Nextdoor and our professional partnerships
with our local media, we keep our community informed on important safety
issues.
- - Local Public Safety Collaborations: Our colleagues in public safety include our
community’s firefighters, emergency medical service providers and the law
enforcement professionals of our cities and state agencies. We keep them updated and share important
information to keep our community safe.
Stranger Safety Tips to review with children:
- Do not go
anywhere with someone you don’t know. This especially includes
getting into or close to vehicles with someone you don’t know.
-Try to keep
your distance from strangers that are trying to talk with you or that approach
you to ask questions or directions. You don’t have to answer their
questions or give them directions. Adults that say they need help
should be asking another adult for help- not a kid.
-Use the
buddy system and avoid walking anywhere alone.
-Trust your
feelings and instincts, if you feel you are being followed or something isn’t
right, seek help immediately.
-When you are seeking help or are
approached by a stranger, go to a trusted adult like your parent, a deputy, a teacher, a fireman
or a friend’s parent that you know.
