Don't blame the road...

The Greenville Police Department has begun a Traffic Safety Initiative which is intended to reduce the number of car crashes in the City, make driving safer, and save lives.

Drivers can soon expect to see public safety announcements warning them of impending traffic safety activities in specific locations where data indicates a high number of vehicle crashes.  These activities are intended to raise public awareness about traffic safety in a positive way.  The announcements will coincide with enforcement of the traffic safety laws, especially along many of the major thoroughfares in Greenville.   The objective of enforcement is to reduce the number of car crashes by gaining voluntary compliance to traffic safety laws.

Among the violations that will be primarily targeted are speeding, turn lane violations, distracted driving, and red light violations. All other traffic laws will be enforced, as well, when violations are observed.

Speeding and inattention are the major causes of most vehicle crashes in Greenville. Rear end collisions, the most common type of car crash, are usually caused by speeding, driver inattention, or by following another car too closely.  Driving through intersections against the red light is a major concern, and a significant factor in car crashes involving injuries.   Turn lane Violations also contribute to a large number of car crashes each year in Greenville.  Using the center turn lane as a travel lane to bypass congested traffic areas creates a big safety risk for other drivers.   

Over the years, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has gathered data on the number of car crashes that occur on highways and streets across the State. 

The Greenville Police Department uses this data, as well as internal crash data, to determine the areas in our city where crashes are more frequent.  As a result of this data analysis, the Greenville Police Department is able to concentrate efforts, including education, public awareness, and enforcement in the locations where vehicle crashes are occurring.

Drivers in Greenville should expect to see a visible increase in traffic safety activities within a few weeks.

Here are the 2012 Top Ten Intersections for Traffic Crashes in Greenville, NC:

2012 Ranking	Intersection	Crashes 2012	Crashes 2011	2-Year Total
1	Arlington Blvd  &  Evans Street	30	16	46
2	Arlington Blvd  &  Red Banks Rd	29	28	57
3	Greenville Blvd &  E. Tenth Street	25	12	37
4	Arlington Blvd  &  Firetower Road	22	16	38
5	Arlington Blvd  &  Stantonsburg Road	20	8	28
6	Charles Blvd  &  Firetower Road	20	10	30
7	S. Evans Street  &  Firetower Road	20	9	29
8	Arlington Blvd  &  Hooker Road	19	15	34
9	Arlington Blvd  &  Dickinson Avenue	17	11	28
10	Arlington Blvd  &  NC Hwy 11 South ( Memorial Dr.)	17	11	28
	Totals	219	136	355

While these areas are where the most crashes occur, they are not the only locations.  Don't blame the roadway.   Drivers have to take responsibility for their driving habits, good or bad.

Come visit...

This is the shoulder patch to the uniform coat worn by Greenville Police Chief Lester D. Page.   It is on exhibit in our gallery lobby at the Police Department. 

Lester Page became Chief of Police following the death of Chief Drum.  According to the 1949 Greenville City Directory, Chief Page lived with his wife, Bertha, at 1411 Dickinson Avenue and his telephone number was #2456.   Chief Page retired from the Police Department in 1952.  And in 1953, he  served 1 term as the Mayor of Greenville.  

His police uniform is on display in the exhibition gallery, along with other Department memorabilia in the front lobby of the Police Department.  The public is welcome to come visit.

---

[i] Greenville NC City Directory.  1949. Page 254. 

Come and get it...

A little help, please....

Detectives from the Greenville Police are asking for help from the public to identify a larceny suspect.  

The man in these surveillance pictures has committed thefts from SEARS Department Store in Greenville on at least three separate occasions.  Most recently, the suspect entered the store and took a 40” Samsung flat-screen television.

After stealing the TV, the suspect fled from the store in a newer model,  white  GMC Sierra pickup truck, driven by a female.  The license tag was covered with duct tape, so no license number could be seen.

Anyone with information about this suspect should call Detective Chris Burack at the Greenville Police Department, at telephone # 252-329-4706.

Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers will pay a reward for information that leads to an arrest.  Call CrimeStoppers at 252-758-7777.

Surveillance pictures can be viewed on YouTube at the following web link:

YouTube Link:  LARCENY SUSPECT STEALING TVs

Good dog...

Police K-9 Officer M.P. Armstrong responded to the area of Wichard Road on Monday night to assist the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office with an armed robbery that had just occurred.  When Officer Armstrong arrived, he attempted a K-9 track from the robbery location.  The track's scent covered over a quarter mile through a trailer park and ended at brick duplex.  Police K-9 "Gauge" led  Officer Armstrong and the deputies to the back of the residence and stopped at a moped.  He then indicated on the seat of the moped.  Hidden inside of the seat compartment were two handguns.  Officers made contact with the individuals inside of the apartment, which later resulted in an arrest.  

Excellent work by the K-9 Gauge and his partner Officer Armstrong.

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Loose in turn 1..

Greenville Police Officers are investigating a hit & run car crash that occurred on Saturday March 2, 2012 at about 2:29 a.m.   The crash occurred on S. Evans Street near E. Fifth Street, at the 5-Points Plaza.

Video from the downtown public safety cameras is available for viewing on YouTube at the following web link:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H4cqo0Jsmg&feature=youtu.be

The vehicle description is a black in color Dodge Challenger with chrome rims and it appeared to have a red stripe down the side of the vehicle from the front end to the back of the doors.   The vehicle should have severe front end damage.

Officers are asking the public for help to identify the driver in this crash.  If you have information, please call the Greenville Police Department at 252-329-4315.

Video Link:  Spin-Out!

Shoplifting with mom...

Attached is a photograph from Wal Mart, taken on Friday March 8 in Greenville. The female in the photograph  concealed clothing items in her purse. When Loss Prevention approached the female, she, three juveniles, and a male companion fled the store in a Silver Crown Vic with 22"-24" rims, according to LP.

We don't remember ever going on a shop-lifting trip with Mom, but times do change
      
.... Mom of the Year, NOT

Good police work...

On Thursday March 7, at about 3:45 a.m., Advanced Police Officer F.D. Gorham was investigating a suspicious vehicle with 2 occupants near 28 Upton Court.

Officer Gorham identified one of the men, and he was released. But, the other man had no picture identification, and Officer Gorham could not confirm his identity.  Without probable cause to hold the unknown man, Officer Gorham received consent and took a picture of him and he was not detained.   (The unknown man had provided a name, which turned out to be fake.)

Officer Gorham circulated the picture of the unknown man among officers in the Department.  Through further investigation detectives in the Criminal Intelligence Unit were able to positively identify the man as Quadell Pollin, a wanted fugitive from Baltimore, MD.

With that new information, Officer Gorham searched his assigned area Thursday night, where at about 12:30 a.m. he was able to locate and arrest Pollin on S. Evans Street without incident.

Quadell Pollin has prior arrests in Maryland for robbery, assault, drugs, and weapons offenses.  He also has a history of assault on law enforcement officers.

Quadell Pollin was charged with providing false information to law enforcement to avoid prosecution, and he is being held at the Pitt County Detention Center pending extradition to Maryland.

That is good police work.

Crime prevention through environmental design

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design – CPTED for short, is the practice of effectively planning and using an area to achieve a reduction in the fear and incidences of crime, and an improvement of the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The Greenville Police Department is incorporating the principles of CPTED into its crime prevention activities.  The Department announces that four police officers have recently completed CPTED training.  One officer from each patrol platoon attended the 5-day CPTED training in Greenville, SC.  The course was taught through the National Institute of Crime Prevention.

Officers J.N. Simmons, S.N. Cates, M.B. Grady, and C.L. Jordan completed the training on March 1.  These officers will continue working with the patrol platoons, while assisting with CPTED crime prevention activities in the Department.  More officers will participate in this training throughout the year.

CPTED looks at the entire community to identify areas or elements that may have the potential to attract crime.  Participants in CPTED training learn how natural access and natural surveillance decreases the opportunities for crime, and how different aspects of lighting and its affect on behavior can reduce criminal activity.  Knowing simple CPTED design principles can lead to solutions that can be undertaken to reduce fear and prevent crime in these areas.  

The application of CPTED principles  are ideal for anyone involved in designing neighborhoods, schools, downtowns, buildings, or revitalization efforts because they involve infrastructural designs with crime prevention in mind.  CPTED is proven to be an effective way of fighting crime and promoting business.

CPTED video

I wish I could make this stuff up...

In the early hours of Saturday, March 2, Greenville Police responded to the report of an armed robbery in the parking lot at the Economy Inn on Stantonsburg Road.  

The victim told police he met the suspect in the parking lot of the DREAMS TOBACCO shop a short while earlier, and had agreed to meet him again at the hotel parking lot in order to buy marijuana from him.

The victim told police that as he was in the process of buying marijuana from the suspect, the suspect pulled a knife and attempted to rob him.  The victim and the suspect fought, and the suspect took one of the victim’s gold-colored chains, an ‘Angry Bird” pendant, reportedly valued at $50.

At the time of his police report, the victim still had in his possession, approximately 17 grams of marijuana that he had bought from the suspect.   Police officers seized the marijuana and placed it into property & evidence.

This case is still under investigation.  Surveillance video from the Economy Inn has been obtained and posted online.   Anyone who can identify the suspect in the video should call the Greenville Police Department at 252-329-4315.

Web Link to Surveillance video:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6VPsbJ4Ya0&feature=youtu.be

A busy 4 hours...

On March 1, 2013, the Greenville Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit hosted a driving while impaired (DWI) checkpoint.  A briefing was held at the Greenville Police Department with the following agencies in attendance: Greenville Police Department, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Ayden Police Department, East Carolina University Police Department, Vidant Medical Police Department, Grifton Police Department, and the Pitt County Sherriff’s Office.  The checkpoint, which began at 10 o’clock pm and ended at 2 o’clock am, was set up on Allen Road at Briarcliff Drive.  The following citations / arrests were made during the four hour checkpoint:

·         DWI: 6

·         Driving While License Revoked:17

·         No Operators License: 12

·         Misdemeanor Drug Charges: 7

·         Felony Drug Charges:1

·         Registration Violations: 19

·         Inspection Violations: 9

·         Alcohol Violations: 3

·         Seat Belt violations: 3

·         Other Traffic Violations: 10

·         Child Restraint Violations:2

·         Warrants served:3

·         Other Misdemeanor Arrest: 1

·         Other Felony Arrrest:2

·         Seizures: 1986 Nissan Pickup truck, over 20 grams of marijuana, and 1600.00 dollars in US currency

·         Recovered:  Taurus .45 Cal handgun stolen out of Nash County

v  Total Traffic & Criminal Violations: 95

A family tradition...

There just seems to be a tradition in police work, of sons and daughters following their dads and moms into law enforcement.

It happens in the Greenville Police Department, too.   Officer Joe Tripp's son, Doug, was a Greenville Police Officer in the 1980s. Joe Tripp was an officer in the 1950s -70s.  Lt. E.E. Laughinghouse was a Greenville Police Officer in the 1960s and 70s, and his son, Edward, is an officer with almost 30 years of service with the department, now.     Reuben Sawyer was one of the most well respected Lieutenants this Department has seen in the past 20 years.  He is retired now, but his 2 sons are both officers with GPD.

Sergeant Matt Cleary was a Greenville Police Officer from the late 60s until the early 90s.  His son became a GPD officer in March 1992 and served as a K-9 officer until he was injured in a motorcycle crash in 2003.

There are plenty of other examples:  Officer Wayne Smith's dad was a Sheriff's deputy.  Chief Sauls's father is a retired Sheriff...there are others, too many to remember here.

What makes a young man or woman look at the field and decide to become a police officer?

Surely as the child of an officer, they must see daily the stress and long hours,  the missed birthdays and absent holidays...the nights away from home.

Yet, many of the children of police officers decide early in life that they want to follow that path and serve others.

Maybe its the satisfaction they see when mom or dad puts a bad person in jail.  Maybe its the respect their parent has for the community's safety.   Perhaps they see the uniform as a symbol.

Whatever the reason,  following mom & dad into law enforcement has been, and seems as if it always will be, a family tradition.

We recently learned the daughter of a good friend of ours just changed her college major from Construction Management to Criminal Justice.   Our friend was a former police officer who recently passed away.  The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.