May 2024

I want to congratulate the April 2024 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Certification Course Graduates.  You were a great group from all across the state.  And special Thanks for Gonzaga University’s Campus Security & Public Safety department for hosting us!  Thank you, Director Becky Wilkey!  Also, a special thanks to Spokane Community Oriented Policing Services (Spokane C.O.P.S.) for all their support in making the class happen.  I must give a shout out to Dave Morris, retired Deputy with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, former WSCPA Regional Director, and now Field Operations Manager with Spokane C.O.P.S.  We couldn’t have done it without you, Dave.
 
Crime Prevention Thursday
At our last Crime Prevention Thursday Session (Thursday, April 18th) we discussed Summer Community Programming and Engagement.  With many of our member agencies participating in Drug Take Back Day, Shred-a-thons, Night Out and other Crime Prevention and Community Outreach efforts over the next few months, there was good discussion regarding what is planned, how they are organized, who was partnered with, and how to possibly replicate those efforts in your community.  Thanks to WSCPA Region 3 Director, and Community Programs Coordinator for Olympia PD, Rebekah Ziesemer for facilitating.  A recording of this session will be available for viewing via our video library in the Members section of our website.
 
For our next Crime Prevention Thursday on May 16th, please join us for an in -depth discussion on Swatting.  First, learn about the National Common Operational Picture Virtual Command Center on Swatting.  The VCC is a situational awareness tool available to law enforcement agencies, utilized for sharing information related to swatting incidents across the US.  This information will be provided by FBI Liaison Specialist Rachel Burney.  Secondly, we will have a presentation on Responding to and Investigating Bomb Threats and Swatting Hoaxes.  This will provide a review of statistics/current trends, characteristics of hoax calls as well as best practices for assessment and response.  This information will be presented by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Brian LeBlanc
Due to the content of the material, this will be a 90-minutes session.  To register for the Crime Prevention Thursday Session, please go here.  After you register you will receive a link for the Zoom session.
 
Crime Prevention Conference
We are looking forward to having you join us at our 2024 Crime Prevention Conference on September 17-18, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wenatchee.  We continue to refine our offerings to ensure you get the best value for attending.  We want you to be able to walk away with ideas, plans, and programs that you can put in place in your communities to enhance what you are already doing regarding Crime Prevention and Community Engagement.  As a refresher, here is some of that we have planned for you:

• Preparing Schools for an Active Shooter event
• Conducting a School CPTED Assessment
• Building a Volunteer Program
• Dealing with Chronic Nuisance Properties
• Scaling Up Your Community Police/Citizen’s Academy
• Crime Prevention Plans and Programs

Workshop details and conference schedule will be forthcoming.
 
Also, we will have a general membership meeting during the buffet lunch on the first day of the conference.  We will be holding elections for Officers and Directors.  All active Association Members (meaning those who are current on their dues) have voting privileges, and you must be an active member in order to hold office on the Board of the Association.
 
Thank you to those who have already registered for the conference.  For those that have yet to register, you can do so here.
 
Nominations for Crime Prevention Awards
We will be presenting our annual Crime Prevention Awards on Wednesday, September 18th during the buffet lunch.  We will honor Outstanding Crime Prevention Program, Volunteer of the year, Crime Prevention Unit of the Year, Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year, The President’s Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.  We need you to nominate people and programs for these awards.  We really do rely on you.  To nominate an award recipient, please go here.
 
Thank you all and thank you for all you do for your communities.  We hope to see you at our next Crime Prevention Thursday and at our Conference in September in Wenatchee.

-​Mark A. Solomon, CPD, PSP
President, Washington State Crime Prevention Association