Press Release: February 21, 2007

COLSTRIP POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE
Larry S. Reinlasoder Chief of Police
Colstrip Police Department, PO Box 9, Colstrip, MT 59323
(406) 748-3004/2211 FAX 748-4832 E-Mail: policechief@bhwi.net

NEIGHBORHOOD PARK WATCH INITIATIVE IN COLSTRIP

Obert Rye Park, Colstrip, MT
Shown(L-R) are Colstrip Mayor John Williams, CPRD Board Member, Cathy Frank, CPRD employee Duane Cole and Colstrip Police Chief Larry Reinlasoder

The Colstrip Police Department and the Colstrip Parks and Recreation District (CPRD) have announced a joint crime prevention initiative based on the principles of Neighborhood Watch. The program will be known as Neighborhood Park Watch and is seen as a deterrent to unlawful and disruptive behavior that may occur in Colstrip’s 23 parks. The park system ranges from small neighborhood parks, which dot Colstrip’s 4.5 miles of city limits, to the Castle Rock Lake Recreation Area to a skateboarding park and softball fields to the main park complex at Box Elder and Park Street. The Parks are a valued resource of the community of Colstrip and belong to all its residents. However, they are not immune to criminal behavior and the unwanted consequences. Colstrip Police have responded to over 150 calls for service in the past year, which originated in park areas, ranging from vandalism and thefts to assaults and drug and alcohol use. The police department and the board of directors of CPRD have met and discussed the issue and agreed on a number of possible responses to address the problems.

One of the major responses involves the Neighborhood Park Watch Program. Its aim is to encourage the residents of Colstrip, and visitors using the park facilities, to be vigilant for unlawful behavior and call the police when they observe suspicious or criminal activity. In the future informational pamphlets will be distributed to residents living around park areas informing them of the crime prevention initiative and asking for their assistance as the “eyes and ears of the police department and CPRD.” The program will give instruction in observation and recognition of suspicious activities and sounds. Residents are asked only to report such activities to the police and be a good witness if needed. The hope is this program will expand throughout the community and result in establishment of more Neighborhood Watch and McGruff Safe Home programs for children within Colstrip. The guiding principle of this program is that “WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER!” Police Chief Larry Reinlasoder reminds all residents that crime prevention is everyone’s business. We must work together in making our community a safe place to live, work and play. We believe this partnership with Colstrip Parks and Recreation will play a major role in protecting not only our community’s recreational assets, but our children and families as well.