Recycling Christmas Trees

The City of Jerome is recycling Christmas trees! You can drop off your live Christmas tree at the Public Works Facility located at the end of 4th Avenue West. Simply place your tree against the fence to the south of the entrance gate. All trees will be mulched and used for landscaping in City parks throughout the year. Please make sure all ornaments and lights are removed first. Happy New Year!

Second Annual Police Department Citizen's Academy

Police Department and the County Sheriff's Department are hosting their second annual Citizen's Academy beginning in early February 2011. For information and details, click on the image below:

City Park Survey

PARKS/GREENSPACE SURVEY: Please take a minute to fill out this nine question survey concerning parks and greenspace in the City of Jerome. We value your opinion and hope to provide the best access to quality parks in the area. To take the survey, click the link below:

Link to Parks Survey

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Between 2003 and 2007, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 250 fires per year started by Christmas trees, and another 170 started by Christmas decorations. Between 2003 and 2006, an estimated 14,800 residential structure fires were started by candles. In that same time period there were 160 civilian deaths, 1,340 civilian injuries, with property damages in excess of $471 million. While these numbers are pretty grim, they could be a lot worse if it were not for the well-trained men and women in fire departments all over this country. To avoid a disastrous holiday season with unnecessary risk, this article provides a few tips that can make this time of year bit safer. We all love our public safety personnel but would rather not see the lights in front of our house on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

There are many things to watch for this time of year, and none of them include a corpulent man coming down the chimney, however the chimney is a good place to start. You should have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of creosote. This substance is the cause of many chimney fires every year. Smoke alarms should be checked around the holidays, as half of all home fires occur from December through February. Many of our residents have pets. If you have a pet that likes to chew, be very careful about Christmas tree lights. I had a dog chew up a string of lights one year and, luckily for us, we only had to replace the lights as they were not plugged in at the time. Scented and unscented Candles can be a great way to set a festive mood, but make sure to keep your decorations away from the candles. Many Christmas decorations are flammable.

I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree in my home. If you decide to keep a live tree, like I do, following a few simple safety tips can avoid a house fire. Always keep water in the base because wet trees are simply more difficult to burn. However, even a well hydrated pine tree will burn. Never put lit candles on a tree and always ensure the light strings are in good shape and designed for indoor use. Never place your tree near a heat source. Heating ducts or baseboard heaters can dry out the tree, even if water is in the base. Electricity in wires and fixtures or overloaded electrical outlets causes heat to build up. While it is festive to spruce up your home with many beautiful decorations, remember to never block exits with them. Keep all exits, including windows, free from obstructions. If you are having company, advise your guests of where they might be able to exit should a fire start. Friends and family are a precious gift; property can be replaced.

These are only a few suggestions that the Jerome Fire Department would like passed on for a safe holiday season. There are many more tips that can help you keep this season a safe and happy time of year. If you would like more tips, the Jerome Fire Department has more tips, information, and statistics available and can be reached at 324-2323.

From me, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the entire City of Jerome, have a safe and happy holiday season.

Winter Driving Tips: Staying Safe in the Snow

With winter making its dramatic entrance last week, the City Police would like to remind all Jerome citizens of a few safe winter driving tips:

• Buckle up always and use your safety belt. This means all passengers and children.
• Be prepared; always carry a First-Aid kit, map, ice scraper, snow brush, matches, candles, flashlight, and warning triangles.
• A blanket and an old pair of boots should always be kept in the car.
• Keep all your car’s windows, mirrors, and lights clear of snow and ice.
• Check that headlamps, turn signals, and tail lights are unobstructed by snow and ice.
• Clear off the entire car when scraping windows in the morning, not just a little peephole in the windshield.
• Add gas line anti-freeze to the fuel-tank when refueling in extremely cold weather.
• Always keep gas tank over half full. If you get stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat.
• Make sure your windshield wipers are in good operating condition.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check engine oil, cars use more oil in the winter.
• Have a mechanic check the battery charging system and belts.
• Always maintain a safe following distance between your car and the vehicle in front.
• When driving in the snow, do everything cautiously and defensively!
• If you must go out when the conditions are poor, take a friend with you. Four eyes are better than two
• Restrain your pets and don’t forget to provide ventilation for them.

Before beginning your trip, know the current road conditions and weather forecast. You can get information via the phone at 1-888-IDA-ROAD.

Please drive safe and for more Winter Driving Tips, please visit www.isp.state.id.us/winterdriving.html.

The Guns of Jerome: History of Law Enforcement Firearms

Article by Mike Hatfield, Chief of Jerome City Fire Department

The Guns of Jerome

This month’s article is from an interview with Sergeant Duane Rubink with the Jerome Police Department. In our discussion we talked about the evolution of firearms in the Police Department and the logic behind the arsenal maintained by each squad car in an effort to better protect the community. Long gone are the days of a saddle mounted Model 94 lever action rifle and hip holstered Colt six shooters. We now see an evolution of multiuse shotguns, automatic rifles and automatic sidearm’s carried in a multitude of shoulder, hip, leg and waist mounted holsters.

For the most part, the recent innovations in firearms have been derived from military applications and confirmed in the battlefield. Benchmark incidents in the public such as the urban terrorism experience at the Columbine High School and the Hollywood Bank Robbery and subsequent shootouts have created a different environment for law enforcement to consider in their attempts to protect the public. The need to arm law enforcement to meet modern day challenges as well as the need to have more discriminating applications of force have created a radical change in the methods, types, and procedures utilized to create an efficient and practical application of deadly force and non-lethal applications as well.

What was considered the tradition ten or even five years prior is now dated technology. Service revolvers such as the six shot Smith & Wesson in .38 and .357 calibers have now given way to 10 mm and .40, .45 caliber lightweight Glocks and Smith& Wesson automatics with magazine capacities of eighteen rounds. What was once the norm to carry a Remington four round 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs and buck shot has now given way to AR-15 and MP-15’s with 223 caliber, large capacity magazines with high velocity rounds designed for various applications of stopping power and penetration. Shotguns are still carried but do not have the capacity, accuracy and reach of the modern long gun and are more suited as a platform for the delivery of less-lethal and non-lethal alternatives such as pepper balls, bean bags and tear gas.

With changes in technology, we also see changes in training and qualifications with each of the firearms utilized in modern law enforcement. Typically, each officer qualifies once a year with all firearms they are expected to use as well as range practice six times a year with at least one night firing drill.

The police department of today is worlds apart from the police department of yesterday with constant changes in all aspects of the profession. Staying abreast of firearm innovations and applications is only one part of the knowledge base required of the officers of the Jerome Police Department.