Volume 8 | November 2018
Cedar Rapids Police Department
Monthly News and Information
Welcome to the Official Monthly Newsletter of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and continue to make Cedar Rapids a safe place to live, work, or visit.
Community Engagement
Thank you for the opportunity to connect with you through several activities and events over the past month. Here are highlights of a few of those events.
The Police Department and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have teamed up to conquer bullying in local middle schools. The “Every Goal Matters” program involves Cedar Rapids RoughRiders hockey players and police officers interacting with students and discussing ways to deal with bullying situations. The program concludes with RoughRiders Head Coach Mark Carlson providing a motivational speech.   
The Police Department was honored to be a part of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight on October 16th. Sergeant Michelle Omar, Officer Anne Deutmeyer and Officer Heidi Northland were selected as guardians for the flight. There were 93 veterans that were part of the flight including one World War II veteran, 23 Korean War veterans, and 69 Vietnam War veterans. The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight conducted 4 flights to Washington, D.C. in 2018.
Police officers participated in America Reads at area schools on October 25-26. America Reads is a national challenge to improve literacy in elementary school age children. Last year, more than 2,000 community members shared their joy of reading with over 17,000 elementary students, preschool through grade 5, in local schools. Each visit takes about 30 minutes. America Reads is an effort to make reading contagious.

On October 27th, the Police Department collected 57.4 pounds of unused, expired, or unwanted medications as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency's National Drug Take Back Day. The Police Department has collected 627.7 pounds of medications so far this year. There is a drug drop-off box located in the front vestibule of the Police Station, 505 1st Street SW, for 24/7 disposal of unwanted medications.
The Police Department hosted a trick-or-treat event on Halloween at Sunner Park, which is located between the Police Station and Cedar River off of 8th Avenue and Valor Way SW. Officers handed out candy, stickers, and books. The books were provided by Quota International of Cedar Rapids. Quota International is a sponsor of "Cops 'N Kids," a program to support children and encourage their success in reading.
Officer Lindsay Schrader, a Cedar Rapids Police Officer and Coordinator of the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative , attended a press conference on October 18th at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.
Opioids kill hundreds of Iowans every year. ​United States Attorney Peter Deegan announced federal sentences in three cases where the distribution of opioids ended in the tragic loss of life.
  • Never place pillows, blankets, comforters, or soft toys in cribs with babies, and always make sure you put your baby on their back.
  • Install child safety electrical socket covers to keep wandering fingers out of harm's way.
  • Make sure your child is properly fitted and is the proper height and weight for their current car seat.
Make Your Home Safe for Your Family
  • Keep walkways, hallways, and especially areas near stairs free of clutter and toys. Have a specific space away from those areas where children keep their toys, and supervise them to make sure that when play time is over, all of the toys are put away safely.
  • Remove or secure all cleaners, medications, and other poisonous substances out of the reach of children.
  • Invest in child safety locks on cabinets and child safety gates to keep them out of unsafe areas like the kitchen or bathroom.
  • Keep an emergency numbers list on the kitchen fridge that has poison control, the fire and police department, the local ER, and your child's pediatrician's numbers all in one place.
  • Keep small objects like coins, latex balloons, hard candies, gooey or hard-to-chew foods like toffee or gum, and even small toys away from where small children can see or touch them to avoid possible suffocation and choking.
 
Upcoming Events
Cedar Rapids police officers will shop with over 100 children that have been selected for "Santa Cop" on December 5th. Children are referred to the program through local schools and other community resources. Police officers, often referred to as “Santa Cops” by the children at the event, will help children pick out winter coats, boots, hats, gloves, and a toy for the upcoming holidays. If you would like help support this program, please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity . Police officers, in addition to donating money to the charity themselves, rely on the generous support of community members and businesses to help families in need.
Join us for Coffee with a Cop ! The next opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the Police Department is scheduled for Thursday, November 15th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Scooter's, 7037 C Avenue NE. The majority of contacts that law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies, or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street . Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
Cedar Rapids Police Department Community Outreach Division | 319-286-5425 | Email | Website