HPD Chief shares back-to-school safety tips

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Cheif of Police Don Schiebler shares back-to-school safety tips.

 

Transcript:

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James Bell 

As students ease into the school year, it's time to be a little bit extra cautious. Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler stops by to share some tips to stay safe and out of trouble. On this episode of the Post Podcast.

 

 

you can definitely tell what's changed with the pulse of the community. For K State being back in session, Technical College, Academy Hair Design, all these students are back in town really makes the town enjoyable. That increase in traffic and school being session really gotta be very cautious with our driving, especially in those school zones, we have to remind people that a school is going to you got to slow down to 20 Going by the school districts, school areas, find that those fines are doubled. We just issued a $200 ticket yesterday for 17 miles over the school zone out 30 miles over the speed limit is just too fast, because kids out there on bicycles walking. So that's just a reminder on that day to slow down and make sure they buckle up and drive safe. But we were like having buddy back in town, it definitely creates more excitement for us.

 

James Bell 

Absolutely. You know, I always like about the college. There's always that learning period for those new kids. And the one ways and I was there 20 years ago, and I'm sure I made it the wrong way more than once. But I've seen a few. Those poor kids, they always look so shocked when you're like No, no, no, you're going the wrong way. But I'm glad to hear that there's been real no major incidents or accidents least yet right?

 

 

No, no major incident, like you said that first month for us is Roya educational period, we try and educate people, a lot of communities a lot of I came from a town of 500 people what side of the street you parked on right didn't matter in Bennington, Kansas. But when they come here, we have to make sure they're parking the right way, going the right way on a one way streets and driving the speed limit wearing the seat belts. But again, just a little things. And at first, that first month truly is an educational period of trying to get people in line. So we have seen a bit of an increase. We haven't seen this in the past. We used to see a lot of house parties. But in recent years, we haven't seen house parties. But we're starting to see house parties with 150 200 people and I think COVID has eventually over to pandemics eventually over people were out socializing again. But we're seeing a lot of underage drinking. So we want to remind everybody yet to be 21 Make sure that everybody's aware that in the city haze, there's the public possession ordinance, even if you're 21, you can't be on a public street or public sidewalk with an open container. And we really encourage those people having house parties. So a couple of different things that we can do. They can number one, they can register their party with the Hayes Police Department, through the Student Government Association for the State University. That gives us a contact person gives them a party pack on some things to not to do during the party and how to be successful. But most importantly for us, it gives us a contact number for somebody to reach out to. And if we get a phone call saying hey, the party is too loud, can you do something about that? Well, supervisor would do we'll call that person up tape, we got to complain about your party, we need you to quiet it down. Most of time that works. And the police department have to go to the party then. So that's worked out very well for us. But if they don't, we have to go there and a person can be issued a citation for a loud noise disturbance. We're also having some morning NAFTA issues. A lot of times we have this big party and the next day you have this huge mess in the front yard. Going by and knocking on the door telling people we have to get that cleaned up. And for the most part, they're cooperative for that too. They're, they're good kids, they're just having a good time. And we just have to remind them that they're their neighbors. Now you have to be a good neighbor. So it's a it's a learning experience, and we appreciate them being here.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. I like to hear that, you know, it will be so easy, I think for for any police department to take that adversarial role, but I like that you're kind of taking that we're a community partner, do the right things and we won't bother you just you know, stay safe and be careful and let us know what's going on.

 

 

And absolutely and those students are so important to our to our community. And we do see them as community partners we do see them as as part of our community. More importantly for us parents from across the state from across the country from around the world and send us their most protecting the most prized possession their children. And our goal is to keep them safe while they're going to school here and getting their education. And I start when we take that responsible very served seriously so we really have to make sure that we're being educational but holding them keeping them safe at the same time. So it works out pretty well for us. So

 

James Bell 

very good. Well any other last thoughts or anything else you want hit on before we

 

 

go? No, I really don't. And then the fact that this reminder again, there's a lot more increase in traffic. Make sure that you slow down through those school zones. Let's buckle up. Stop the stop sign is because be extra careful. Forex people say it's successful