Summary
- Representatives from the Cleveland Divisions of Police and Fire shared community safety updates, highlighting a 14% decrease in overall crime in the Third Police District since last year. They reported that seven new Cleveland Police Academy graduates will be assigned to the Third District at the end of the month. Other updates included water safety reminders, the importance of functioning smoke detectors and upcoming fire department training opportunities. A representative from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office discussed the role of Flock cameras in helping law enforcement investigate and solve crimes.
- A representative from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland gave a presentation on identifying various types of scams, how to avoid scams and ways to report a scam.
- A representative from the Cleveland Office of Professional Standards explained that the independent agency is responsible for investigating non-criminal complaints filed by members of the public regarding Cleveland Division of Police employees. The representative also encouraged residents to submit commendations when police employees demonstrate exceptional service.
Follow-up questions
- A representative from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office provided an update on the use of Flock Safety cameras and their role in supporting law enforcement investigations and helping to solve crimes. I have a few questions regarding data sharing:
- Is information collected through Flock cameras shared with U.S. Homeland Security or other federal, state or local agencies?
- What policies and safeguards are in place to protect residents’ privacy and prevent misuse of the data?
Scene at the Third District Community Relations Safety meeting
The Aug. 18 Third District Community Relations Safety Meeting began at 6:02 p.m. at the Third District Police Station at 4501 Chester Ave. Approximately 16 residents attended. There were several handouts from OhioGuidestone on the sign-in table along with the agenda. [Editor’s note: Find the handouts captured by Documenters Elizabeth Creel and Evelyn Landis here]. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. Meeting Treasurer Ed Homs sold raffle tickets, and residents chatted with each other and with presenters before the meeting started.
Here is the link to the Third Police District map.
All crimes down except burglaries
Third District Commander Mark Maguth was not present. Captain Brian Carney said there have been a total of seven murders to date this year in comparison to 20 last year at this time. Overall, all crimes are down by 14% while burglaries have increased by 12.5% in the Third District. However, a person connected to five burglaries was recently arrested. Residents had several questions for Carney, ranging from shopping carts being stolen from Dave’s Supermarket on Harvard Avenue and being left in the neighborhood to police neighborhood presence and concerns regarding a drug house. Carney invited residents to speak with him following the meeting.
Get a free smoke detector and have a firefighter install it
Lieutenant Mike Norman said it has been a busy summer on the lake, including the recent drowning of a 10-year-old girl at Edgewater Beach. The lieutenant reminded residents of the danger of rip currents and overall water safety. There was a recent house fire caused by burning incense, and the lieutenant said residents can get a free smoke detector from the American Red Cross, and the Fire division will install it free of charge.
Common scams, how to avoid them and where to report them
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland Attorney Bilal Mozaffar from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland presented information on common scams, how to avoid them and where to report them. He explained that imposter scams remain the most common type of fraud, with other frequent scams involving online shopping, fake job opportunities, investments and internet services.
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Mozaffar warned residents that phone calls, text messages, or emails claiming they will be arrested are scams. He also discussed jury duty scams, noting that law enforcement will not call and threaten arrest for missing jury duty. A key warning sign of a scam is a sense of urgency. Scammers often pressure people to act immediately by saying things like, “Don’t hang up” or by demanding instant payment. Mozaffar also mentioned the existence of fraudulent credit card readers and payment devices.
For those who believe they may have been scammed, Mozaffar shared several steps to take. Individuals should contact their bank, credit card company, or gift card provider as soon as possible to report fraudulent transactions. Anyone who mailed cash should contact the U.S. Postal Service to see whether the mailing can be intercepted. If a Social Security number has been compromised, residents should file a report at IdentityTheft.gov and contact the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If residents have shared online account usernames or passwords with potential scammers, they should change those immediately.
Mozaffar also encouraged residents to report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and local law enforcement, which can help connect victims with appropriate resources and support services.
There’s more: Read the full notes from this meeting by Documenter Elizabeth Creel.They include an update on how Flock cameras in the Third District. Documenter Marvetta Rutherford recorded audio of the meeting.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
