Mercer Island Police Officer Rob Jira answers frequently asked questions from Mercer Island residents.
I’ve noticed that there have been a lot of home break-ins (burglaries) recently. What is the Mercer Island Police Department doing about this?
We are continuing to proactively investigate these burglaries, attempting to identify and apprehend the people responsible, and trying to recover property that has been taken. One of the biggest things we are now focusing on is educating the public on simple things they can do at home to keep themselves and their families safe. We are also looking into joining various social media platforms to help get vital information out to the public faster and more efficiently. We have just teamed up with www.crimemapping.com, so people can track the crime that happens in their neighborhoods. Crimemapping.com also has a smart phone app that is currently free to the general public. As our city and police department continue to grow, stay tuned for new and interactive mediums that we hope to use to keep our citizens informed on what’s going on in their city.
I noticed that during the recent Boston bombings, the police department was using Twitter to get their information out to the public. Does the Mercer Island Police Department have a Twitter account?
Not as of yet, but hold tight. In a continuing effort to provide this city and its citizens with the best services we can, we at the Mercer Island Police Department are still actively looking into various social media platforms and their benefits. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us join the rest of the social media world very soon.
What is the speed limit in a school zone when schools are not in session?
The speed limit is whatever the last posted sign was prior to entering the school zone. An example would be on Island Crest Way by Island Park Elementary. When the school zone is in effect, the speed limit is 20 mph. When the school zone is not in effect, the speed limit is the normal 35 mph.
Being a police officer, do you watch a lot of “cop” shows on TV?
No. When I do, I usually end up saying (out loud), “That’s not how we do it!”
Send your questions to Officer Jira at Rob.Jira@mercergov.org.
