Epsa Newsletter Fall09

Echo Park Security Association

Newsletter Fall 2009

Select Patrol Report

EPSA Takes Part in National Night Out

By Darin Williams Select Patrol Founder/President

The 26th Annual National Night Out Against Crime took place on August 4, 2009. Echo Park Security Association volunteers and Select Patrol officers were on hand to greet community members and promote our crime prevention efforts.

The Essentials Last Sunday, my wife and I attended a house-warming party for my business manager, Cheryl Harmon. A longtime Echo Park resident, Cheryl had opted for the rural surroundings of Sylmar a few years ago. However, just a few weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday last year, a wildfire swept down through the canyons and engulfed Cheryl’s neighborhood. Aside from a few personal mementos which she had loaded into her car, all of Cheryl's possessions were destroyed. Although she lost both her home and nearly all that she had acquired in a lifetime, Cheryl did manage to save her livelihood by backing up all of her computer files to an offsite location. Cheryl is now in a new home in Sylmar just a few miles from the home she lost.

National Night Out is a festive community event, but with a serious purpose: To heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention activities; to generate support and participation in local anticrime programs; to strengthen community spirit and policecommunity partnerships; and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Approximately 15,000 communities in all 50 states take part in National Night Out. Echo Park’s event was held in the Walgreen’s parking lot on the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Echo Park Avenue, and included free cotton candy, a children’s bouncer, free hamburgers with all the fixings grilled by Select Patrol staff, and colorful community booths.

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EPSA Volunteers Attend LAPD Senior Lead Officer Summit To strengthen ties with the local law enforcement community, EPSA volunteers attended Senior Lead Officer (SLO) events for the LAPD’s Northeast and Rampart Divisions at the end of July. (Echo Park north of Sunset falls within the Northeast Division, the area south of Sunset is covered by Rampart.) The Northeast event took place in Dodger Stadium, while the Rampart event was held in the station’s brand-new community room. EPSA volunteers had the chance to meet and hear from both of our local SLOs, Bob Hill (Northeast) and Louis Ford (Rampart).

Top: Echo Park resident and EPSA supporter Joe Sandoval and his grandson. Above: Select Patrol officer Ed Aguerro. Left: EPSA volunteer Susan Borden at the EPSA booth

Holiday Bonus Time Your Select Patrol officers work hard all year to help keep your home and family safe. Please consider showing your thanks this holiday season by including a bonus amount with your quarterly payment.

EPSA volunteers (from left) Suzanne Kimbrough and Edna Kam chatted with SLO Bob Hill at the Northeast Summit.

EPSA

w P.O. Box 26201 Los Angeles, CA 90026 w Tel: (323) 860-9914 w Email: [email protected] Online: www.echoparksecurity.org

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Echo Park Security Association Newsletter

Select Patrol Report, continued

Community News & Safety Tips

What if this happened to you or me? What would we need to have in order to regain a foothold and carry on with our lives?

No Phishing: Beware of text messaging scams, known as “phishing,” in which you get a message supposedly from your bank or credit card company saying that your account is expiring and that you need to reactivate, either by clicking an included link or by calling an 800 telephone number. When you respond, you are asked to provide passwords or other personal information. Never share personal information without first contacting your bank or financial institution directly to make sure the request is legitimate.

In a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class I attended a couple of years back, the instructor told us that she loaded her family’s critical documents, including Social Security cards, birth certificates and insurance policy information, onto a thumb drive which she keeps with her at all times. This is an excellent tool to access critical information from virtually anywhere. It is also recommended that we photograph and video the interiors of our homes and its contents to have as a record of what we own.

Cell phones: We asked this in the last newsletter but it’s still a problem: EPSA members are getting rid of their land lines and using only their cell phones without updating our records. We need your current phone number in order to provide you with the level of service our members deserve.

Another issue of concern is family photographs. Regular images may be backed up either through online photo albums, or stored on disks offsite. The key with document preservation is to have two or even three separate backup systems working for you

Paying Your Dues: Please pay on time, at the beginning of the quarter (or in advance). If you do have to cancel, remember that past service must still be paid for. Over the years we have lost a lot of money when members canceled without bringing their accounts up to date. We hate to see you go or move away, but if you must, please don’t leave us in the lurch!

Finally, it is a good idea to set aside an overnight kit with personal care items and a change of clothes. Have these items ready either in a closet or in the trunk of your car. With your own needs taken care of you can focus on other family members and of course your pets. Your Guard, Darin

Vacations: Be sure to notify us when you go away so Select Patrol can keep an eye on your empty house. And, make sure we have your vacation or emergency contact number.

]]]Tip:

Report Graffiti: You know about dialing 3-1-1 to report graffiti. Now you can also file a report online at: www.anti-graffiti.lacity.org.

Calling 9-1-1 on Your Cell Phone]]]

In an emergency, dial 9-1-1. If you get a recording instead of a live operator, wait for the prompt and actually SAY “Emergency” instead of pressing 1. Not all wireless phones transmit number tones during a 911 call. You could needlessly delay help getting to you.

Block Coordinators Meeting: Volunteer Block Coordinators meet four times a year, in January, March, June and September, to discuss EPSA’s direction, problems, successes, finances and future. All members are invited to attend. Some of our best ideas have come from these meetings! Call (323) 860-9914 for times and dates.

(Information provided by Sprint)

Holiday Precautions: The holiday season is always a happy time of year for thieves. Please don’t drop any precautions and be sure to record the serial numbers of any new electronic equipment you receive (directly on the receipt is a suitable place).

Community News & Safety Tips, continued We meet in the Edendale Library’s community room, 2011 W. Sunset Blvd., at 2:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. Upcoming meetings: n October 8 n November 12 n (No meeting in December) n January 14, 2010

Community Safety Meetings: All Echo Park residents are invited to monthly Community Safety meetings, sponsored by EPSA and attended by LAPD officers, Select Patrol officers and city representatives. continued

EPSA

w Fall 2009

w P.O. Box 26201 Los Angeles, CA 90026 w Tel: (323) 860-9914 w Email: [email protected] Online: www.echoparksecurity.org

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