Volume 5 | August 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.
Police officers were part of Mount Mercy University's JumpStart program for 6th graders this summer. JumpStart’s mission is to inspire children of Cedar Rapids to reach their educational potential by teaching vital lessons in leadership and academics — through the support of mentors and role models — as part of free sports programming at the Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex.
The Police Department partnered with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department to hold a week-long Heroes' Safety Camp for children ages 6-8. Activities included learning about fire and life safety, bicycle helmets, motor vehicle safety, first aid, medication safety, water safety, and gun safety. The Camp was held July 16-20. The program is offered each summer. Learn more about public safety summer camps .
Sergeant Chris Bieber represented the Police Department on a panel discussion on mental health issues in Iowa. He joined Emily Bloome with Foundation 2 and Dr. Peggy Nopoulus, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of Iowa , along with the moderator. The program was broadcast on KFXA Fox 28 on July 27th. The Town Hall is available for viewing online .
The Cedar Rapids Police Explorer Post #107 traveled to Purdue University in Indiana from July 16-21, 2018 to compete against other police explorer posts across the nation in various police procedures.
The Police Department sent five Explorers and three advisors to this year’s competition. The Post placed 5th in the nation for their team work on Crime Prevention. This is the first local Explorer Post team to win in a competition since the 1980’s.
The Police Department hosted several groups throughout the month of July from College Community School's Early Childhood Center program. The children made a craft with police officers, had the opportunity to check out a squad car, watched a slideshow with pictures from a Cedar Rapids Police Academy, and met with several police officers. We hope to have several recruits from this class in about 15 years.
Cedar Rapids Joint Communications Manager Charlie McClintock went to Marshalltown on July 20 to assist RACOM after a devastating tornado ripped through the city. He took some water, Gatorade, and cases of snacks on behalf of the Police Department. RACOM Corporation controls the network for most of Iowa’s first responder radio communications, including the five largest counties in the state and 10 of the 15 largest cities.
Back to School - Personal Safety Tips
· Stay alert and walk with a purpose
· Stay away from dark and lonely places
· Plan a route and know your surroundings
· Don’t walk alone
· Keep arms and hands free
· Don’t be distracted by devices
· Walk at a steady pace
· Don’t accept rides from strangers
· If followed, get away quickly and call 911
· Scream if you are in danger
· Carry a whistle
· Have a safety plan and know safe areas on your route
Upcoming Events
The Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity will host its annual “Cops and Kids” program to assist children in need with back-to-school supplies. This year’s event is scheduled for Monday, August 13th at Cedar Rapids North Super Target, 1030 Blairs Ferry Road NE. 

Partnering with Target, the Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity will be providing 110 local children with school supplies, back packs, shoes and new clothing to help them get the school year off to a positive start. The Cedar Rapids Police Protective Charity worked with several organizations to select the children in need who will receive the school supplies as part of this event. 
For more information about the Cedar Rapids Police Department Protective Charity or to make a donation to support these efforts, please visit  www.crpolicecharity.com .
On Thursday, August 30th officers from the Cedar Rapids Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee.

All community members are invited to attend. The event will run from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on August 30th at Brewed Awakenings, 1271 1st Avenue NE.  

Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department’s work in Cedar Rapids neighborhoods. The majority of contacts that law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies, or emotional situations. 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