Cops to teach victim prevention

SUMMIT COUNTY - Living in a quiet mountain community can sometimes cause people to forget about the potential of being victims of crime, but two local police officers want to make sure citizens are prepared for any situation.

Silverthorne Police Officer Amy Noraka and Frisco Sgt. Jim Donahue will hold three free crime prevention classes starting Aug. 10 to teach people how to make themselves less of a target to criminals and how to react if they are victimized.

"We just want people to be more aware and more comfortable in how to respond if they need to," Noraka said.

Classes will focus on everything from learning how to change a tire and identity theft prevention to how to file a police report. While calling 911 to report a crime may seem easy enough, often people forget to catch details such as a license plate number or direction of travel, Noraka said.

"Without some of those details people don't think about, it makes it a lot more difficult to follow up on a crime," she said.

Noraka and Donahue will also teach basic self-defense techniques that can be used to deter an attacker. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their new skills on the officers so they get used to the movements.

Instructors will provide safety tips for home, work and everyday activities.

While the class is open to all men and women over 16, Noraka especially urges college students to attend, as the topics discussed will remind them how to be safe on campus.

Both Noraka and Donahue are certified arrest-control instructors, which means they teach their co-workers how to properly arrest someone, and how to defend themselves on the job. Aside from the annual crime prevention class, they conduct specialized training for smaller groups throughout the year.

Participants are encouraged to attend all three classes because they will each cover different topics.



Nicole Formosa can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13625, or at nformosa@summitdaily.com.