In the wake of a June 5 report of a local possible attempted luring incident, Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) crime prevention coordinator and community outreach liaison Cpl. Bobby Jira delved into the personal safety realm during a recent visit with the Reporter.
MIPD Public Information Officer Lindsey Tusing said the incident caused some concern with parents, and Jira provided some common safety reminders for kids.
Crime prevention education starts at a young age, he said. While speaking with classes at preschools and elementary schools, Jira stressed for kids to dial 911 from their cell phones if they possess one, know their address and to be wary if a stranger approaches them.
“I tell people the most important thing is to yell ‘stranger, stranger’ and run to somebody you trust, whether it be a teacher, a police officer, maybe somebody who works there,” said Jira, an 18-year member of the MIPD who has worked as a lead detective, patroller and new officer trainer.
Regarding the June 5 incident, no one was injured and there was no active threat to the community, MIPD noted at the time. A letter sent to local families from the Mercer Island School District communications team on June 6 said the elementary aged children involved immediately sought help from a parent. Jira said the case is currently in the hands of the MIPD detective unit.
Jira expanded his personal safety discussion to include people of all ages when they are in their homes or out and about in the community.
“Be careful if you’re going somewhere or you have somebody coming over, tell a trusted friend,” he said. “Carry a cell phone, carry a light, have a plan. Give a trusted friend your tracker so they can track where you’re at. If you are going to go on a date with somebody, check in with a friend. Especially if it’s somebody that’s unknown.”
SUMMER SAFETY AND MORE
During the summer months, Jira said that people should stay hydrated during the heat, refrain from leaving their pets unattended in a car and follow standard safety rules when occupying a boat.
The Fourth of July, Seafair and Mercer Island’s Summer Celebration unleash a plethora of boaters on Lake Washington, and MIPD offers the following safety tips for those times and throughout the entire boating season: stay hydrated, don’t drink and operate a vessel, wear a life jacket and ensure that all appropriate safety equipment — like sound signals, fire extinguishers and navigation lights — is in proper working order.
On land, Jira said that to prevent thefts in residents’ homes or vehicles, they can utilize alarms, motion lights and security cameras, lock things up, don’t leave valuables visible and more. If residents witness a possible crime happening, they should safely take a photo or video, get suspect description, license plate number, and immediately report the incident to police.
“The biggest thing, whether it’s on land or sea, is just look out for one another. For us, it’s always talk with your neighbors. If you’re going out of town, make sure that you have everything locked and tell your neighbors. So if they see somebody on your property, they can call us,” said Jira, adding that the community has always been supportive of the department.
Jira concluded, “Feeling that support, it made you want to go out there and do an even better job than you hope you’re already doing.”
