Agencies urge residents to report suspicious activity
Yuma Police Department, sheriff’s office aim to prevent crimes
In the wake of the school shooting earlier this month in Florida, the Yuma Police Department and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office said reporting suspicious behaviors and activities can help prevent violent crimes before they ever happen.
Both agencies stressed the importance of, “if you see something, say something,” as a way of educating the public about the importance of reporting anything that they may find unsettling, concerning or out of the ordinary in any way.
Sgt. Lori Franklin, a YPD spokesperson, added that if you think a crime is occurring, or that someone’s safety may be at risk, don’t hesitate to call 911, even if it turns out later you were mistaken.
“If the situation is giving you a cause for concern, report it so we can come look into it. We cannot respond to investigate a threat that we do not know about,” Franklin said. “You shouldn’t ever worry about wasting a police officer’s time.”
YCSO spokesman Alfonso Zavala explained that even if you are unsure as to what is going on, the best thing to do is to let law enforcement investigate. He added that city and county residents play an important role as the eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies in their neighborhoods.
If the unusual activity or behavior is not reported, nothing can be done. For example, a 47-year-old man was arrested earlier this month for allegedly trespassing after showing up repeatedly at Cibola High School.
The man has also been identified as the same person who allegedly made advances to a cheerleader in the school parking lot after practice on Jan. 24, according to Yuma police and school officials.
The incident was reported to Yuma police and a complaint was taken, with the cheer coach providing a statement. However, the man had left the scene before police were able to speak with him.
The following day, the man was seen again near the softball fields behind
the school, and school security and Yuma police officers made contact with him and issued him a trespassing warning.
A witness to the earlier incidents spotted the man across the street from the high school in the Cibola Heights neighborhood the next day and police were contacted.
Officers began searching the area, and found the man parked in the softball parking lot, where he was questioned by police and subsequently arrested.
Franklin explained that the man had been warned that he was not to return to school property and since he was found on school property again, and had no reason to be there, he was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.
When it comes to school safety, Franklin said every school in the Yuma Union High School District and the Crane District has what is known as a School Resource Office (SRO) on campus throughout the day — which essentially makes the school the officer’s beat.
An SRO assists the school administration in maintaining a safe and secure environment and provides a highly visible presence to deter potential crimes or identify trespassers on campus. They also provide a service to the surrounding neighborhood by addressing concerns such as loitering, speeding or loud car radios, or any other complaints generated by students going to or leaving school.
These officers, who aren’t involved in enforcing school policies, have additional duties as well, including mentoring students and conducting presentations on youth-related issues. As police officers they can make arrests, respond to calls for service, and document incidents that occur on campus.
While the sheriff’s office does not have an SRO program, Zavala said deputies patrol the county schools and do routine checks at each of the schools.
Zavala said deputies also conduct training at the schools in which they instruct teachers and school administrators how to handle a variety of dangerous situations — including an active shooter scenario.
In addition, YPD also has what are known as Neighborhood School Resource Officers on patrol in the vicinity of every elementary and private school within the city, who can be at the school in moments if they have to respond to a call.