Suffolk News-Herald

In observance of National Crime Prevention Awareness Month, the Suffolk Police Department has planned activities throughout October.

&uot;Along with the Crime Prevention Awareness Month, we are also celebrating Domestic Violence Awareness Month,&uot; said Police Sgt. Stephanie Burch. &uot;We are providing information to citizens, helping to make the public more aware of the violence and abuse that goes on in some homes. &uot;We will be presenting this information during several public meetings like the one held Oct. 2 at Courthouse Park.

The office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Phil Ferguson, and the Genieve Shelter were involved in that program and it was well received by those who attended.&uot;

Although the entire department will be involved in the special events, the Community Improvement Unit will spearhead events.

This will kick off with information tables set up at each of the city’s high schools, with brochures offering tips on preventing of alcohol and drug abuse and teen date rape.

&uot;We are even using Peanut Fest to get our message out,&uot; said Burch. &uot;We’ll have a table set up at the City Tent and we will be signing up people for free home or business security surveys.

&uot;We’ll also be handing out crime prevention leaflets.&uot;

In a separate event, Officer Sandy Gilluly and Diana Klink, outreach coordinator with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, will provide &uot;Senior Safety&uot; seminars at Bingo events later this month.

They will speak at 8 a.m. Oct. 15 in College Drive Wal-Mart, and at 8 a.m. Oct. 20 in the North Main Street Wal-Mart.

People can also go to www.suffolk.va.us/police to get a form to request a police department speaker. Clubs, civic groups, churches, schools and other groups that would like to have a speaker may submit the form to the Suffolk Police Department at least three weeks prior to the engagement.

The information may be given to a member of the Community Services Section, faxed, mailed or hand delivered to police headquarters

To request guest speakers by phone, call 923-2350.