Dublin police go festive to reduce DUI
Dublin police discourage revelers from spending part of their holiday in the city pokey for drunken driving with the “Jail Cell Edition” of the department’s monthly Cruiser Conversations.
For December, guitar-playing public-information officer Josh Poland and a quartet of cops sing “We Want to Help You Stay Safe this Christmas” to the tune of “Feliz Navidad.”
Officer Chuck Collier, Poland’s regular partner in the segment who makes it clear he doesn’t sing, gives practical reasons not to get behind the wheel if you over-imbibe at a holiday affair.
“Instead of having a homecooked meal, you’re going to be eating something like this,” Collier said, pulling out a frozen meal, and, “While the children are nestled all snug in their bed, you’re stuck here sleeping on a concrete slab.”
So get a friend, cab or Uber to drive you home, Collier said. But if you do make the wrong choice and end up locked up, he promises that you won’t have to suffer the off-key cop carolers.
Westerville anti-theft sign is carol-inspired
A recent safety campaign by the Westerville Police Department also took inspiration from a popular Christmas carol.
“’Tis the season to be thieving” declared a digital traffic sign on State Street, a main gateway into the city. In early December, the large marquee warned drivers to lock their doors to prevent thefts.
Westerville, like many suburbs, experiences more thefts from unlocked vehicles this time of year, so police decided to display the message as a public education program, city spokeswoman Christa Dickey said.
One resident didn’t find the message too jolly.
Elicia Finnell, 59, told city council members the signs were “sad and distasteful” at their Dec. 5 meeting.
“It was an awful spin on a joyful, well-known Christmas song,” Finnell said.
“I don’t think this gateway message sells our city to tourists or prospective business prospects.”
Cop commended for jumping in a pond
Columbus police officer David Schulz was commended by a division sergeant for his “heroic efforts” late Thursday night after finding a vehicle partially submerged in a Northeast Side pond, Dispatch Reporter Michael Huson reports.
Schulz responded to the call of a submerged vehicle near the 4100 block of Cobbler Road just before midnight, police said. The officer initially could not determine whether anyone was trapped inside the vehicle. Wasting no time, he unfastened his duty belt and entered the water as the air temperature fell to 19 degrees, according to Sgt. James Wildermuth.
Schulz used a glass-breaking tool to enter the vehicle, police said, and a search determined that no one was inside.
The Columbus police dive team also went to the scene, police said. The vehicle was pulled from the pond but police were unable to locate the owner while searching the area.