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FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE
WILLIAM J. RUTTEN
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The Kohler Police Department now has a medications drop box. The secure box is located in the lobby of the police department and is available to have any pill medications dropped off 24/7. This program is in cooperation with the Sheboygan County Planning Department, and is intended to keep old harmful medications from entering our water supply. Any old medications can be dropped off, still in the bottles, in the box and will be disposed of without charge. No other medical waste, syringes, or liquids should be dropped off. Any questions, please contact us.
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The Kohler Police Department is heavily involved in the planning of traffic routes and security issues for this summer’s golf event that will be held at Blackwolf Run. We all expect that the event will run smoothly, but cooperation is crucial. In the coming months, we will be putting out more information so everyone will be informed of events and what restrictions may be needed to make this a safe and successful event. Due to the limited parking at the course, visitors are going to be shuttled from lots away from the course. There will be abundant parking and it will be easiest if all spectators are shuttled from those lots. If friends are attending, having them park in those lots is actually preferred. Parking will be restricted near the course and heavy pedestrian traffic will hamper traffic/shuttle flow.
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There are residents in the Village that have been targeted by other scam artists. Many of them prey on your good intentions of helping those in need. If you get a phone call that someone you know is stuck in a foreign country and can’t leave until they are wired money, don’t believe it. Any time that a sweepstakes calls and says that you won and just need to be wired some money for any reason, don’t believe it. If someone is planning on buying something from you and “accidentally” makes the check out for too much, and asks to either keep it or send them the difference, don’t believe them. You’ll be out the check amount and the extra that you sent back. These are some of the most common ways for you to get talked out of your hard earned cash. The wired money can be retrieved from anywhere, and usually it is out of the country, so you don’t have much recourse. Also, any time you cash a check which bounces, or is fraudulent, you are on the hook. Your bank will make you reimburse them. If you get targeted by one of these or another attempt to swindle you of your money, call our department for advice, 459-3877.
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Now that winter is back upon us, we all have to remember to drive more carefully. Even though some vehicles seem to handle better in the snowy conditions, remember to give yourself more distance between vehicles when stopping. Big SUVs can get going faster with 4-wheel drive, but have the same problems stopping on slick roads. Snow banks can reduce visibility, so be aware of pedestrians. If a vehicle is parked outside, remember to clear the windows. Proper visibility is extremely important, especially with children crossing the streets early in the morning. Also, remember that getting ready in the winter takes more time, so to avoid having to rush, plan ahead.
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The Village of Kohler doesn’t have winter parking regulations like many other communities with parking on the even or odd side of the street throughout the winter months. That is typically done so if it snows the communities can completely clear the streets after the snowstorms over two days. Instead, we just rely on residents moving their vehicles promptly after snowstorms. Also, just a reminder that it is illegal to blow snow into the Village streets. Helping out in these areas makes our streets cleaner and safer during the winter season.
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Recently there have been several thefts reported of items being taken that were located close to the road. One such item was a lawnmower that wouldn’t fit on a landscape trailer. We are not sure, but someone may have thought that it had been left at the curb as garbage. However, we do have an ordinance that prohibits the taking of recyclables/garbage from the curbside. The Village has a contract and receives money back from the recyclables that are picked up along the curb. Also, we do get theft complaints like bikes or lawn mowers, etc., that may be left close to the curb. Therefore, if you see someone that may be suspicious or actually taking something from the curbside, you should call the police.
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Carrying Concealed Weapons:
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As many of you know, the State of Wisconsin will have a new law going into effect on November 1, 2011, which allows carrying a concealed weapon with a permit. The law requires a background check and training. In addition, the law still prohibits carrying a concealed weapon in certain specific locations, such as Schools, Police Departments, and anywhere the premises are posted. It is the responsibility of the permitee to know where they can carry. It is advised that those that have a permit and are carrying concealed to state that fact to a law enforcement officer if you are having contact.
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Just a reminder that the Village has a 24-hour restriction on parking of trailers, campers, and RV’s on any Village street for longer than a 24-hour period. If an owner of an RV needs longer than that for preparation for a trip, contact the police department. The village ordinance (11.20.030) was enacted to limit the amount of boats and other types of trailers on the streets for several reasons, including esthetics.
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Soliciting without Permits:
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The Village of Kohler has been experiencing an increase in door-to-door salespersons soliciting without first obtaining permits. The fees for the permits are nominal, but the important aspect is that the Village is aware of exactly who is soliciting. Background checks can be run and only legitimate organizations are allowed to solicit. If someone is soliciting legally, they will not be upset if they are asked to see their permit. If no permit has been issued, please send them on their way and contact the police department immediately. Non-profit organizations and established local businesses (i.e. Sears, etc.) that may be going door-to-door are exempt from the permits issued by the Village.
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Electronic Warnings and Citations:
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The Kohler Police Department with the help of a grant through the State of Wisconsin has transitioned to Electronic Traffic Warnings and Electronic Traffic Citations. Our department needed to become compliant with the new traffic stop data collection requirements of the State of Wisconsin. The technology has existed in the State of Wisconsin for about 6 years, but before was cost prohibitive. Through this grant, the officers now will be able to electronically print out these documents and then save them to their computers. The information then gets transmitted electronically to the State and to the Municipal Court. The officers will eventually be able to print accident reports in the squads for added efficiency. The ultimate goal is to be able to have a paperless records system and to be more efficient in our policing. All the police departments in Sheboygan County will eventually have this technology. The Kohler Police Department was able to implement more quickly largely due to Administrative Assistant Jodie Kuklinski’s efforts.
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As of December 1, 2010, a new state statute 346.89(3)(a), prohibits electronic texting or e-mail messages from being composed or sent while driving. This is a more specific subsection of the inattentive driving statute. Technically, anything that a driver is “so engaged or occupied (with) as to interfere with the safe driving of the vehicle” is considered a violation of the inattentive driving law. Texting could easily have fallen into that category, just as reading, putting on makeup, or adjusting the stereo would also be inattentive driving. Many drivers overestimate their driving ability and put the rest of the public at risk while driving distracted. Please be careful while driving. They’re called accidents for a reason, but many can be avoided! To read more about texting and driving click here.
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The Kohler Police Department is continuing its program of controlling the deer population in the Village of Kohler. The department has again received a DNR permit to control the herd and will hopefully be able to keep the population in check this winter. In addition, several years ago the Village Board enacted an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer anywhere in the Village of Kohler. The ordinance is an attempt at keeping the deer out of the residential areas of the village. The ordinance prohibits the artificial feeding of deer with corn or grains, salt or minerals, or fruits and vegetables placed there for the purpose of feeding or attracting deer. By not feeding the deer, hopefully they will stay in their normal habitat and not encroach on the residential areas.
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Recently the Kohler Police Department has been receiving more citizen complaints of general mischief happening to their yards and houses. Many of these complaints are happening after the hours of darkness by the youth of the village. Some of the complaints are being perpetrated by friends and are causing grief for the parents that live there. When we follow up on the complaints, we have been discovering many are being committed by youth under the age of 17 after the time of curfew, which is 10:30 p.m. In addition to the curfew violations, many of the homeowners are requesting enforcement of littering laws or other ordinances that apply. What may seem like fun to kids, can be very annoying to residents and may result in citations.
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The Wisconsin statutes prohibits “play vehicles” from being on the roadways in Wisconsin. These include: skateboards, ripsticks, and scooters. Also, state statutes prohibit any motorized vehicle from being operated on the sidewalks. That would include motorized scooters. This basically leaves only private property where permission has been granted. Please understand that the state statutes cannot be changed by Village ordinance, therefore we cannot permit someone to operate in violation. Many of these items are not cheap to purchase. Please be cognizant of the rules prior to purchasing one for the family.
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Carbon Monoxide Detectors:
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I received a pleasant call from a Village resident recently requesting that I write about carbon monoxide detectors. She went on to tell me that a bird had built a nest in her chimney that eventually blocked the odorless fumes from escaping. She hadn’t felt well, and almost didn’t wake up for a phone call. Once awake, she faintly heard her detector being activated. She was succumbing to the deadly fumes of the blocked furnace, carbon monoxide. She left the residence and had the problem fixed. Without the detector, we may not have had our conversation. If you don’t have a detector, they aren’t expensive and can save your life. I’m glad we had our conversation for several reasons, seeing that she is okay and also for the topic to write on. Please click here for more information on symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also if anyone has a suggestion, please don’t hesitate to send a topic my way.
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Sexual Offender Ordinances:
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The Village recently enacted new ordinances that restrict certain convicted sex offenders within the Village of Kohler. The Village has set a limit on residing in the Village within 1,500 feet of a park, school, or church. In addition, sexual offenders can not loiter within 500 feet of those same locations. The Kohler Police Department has a link on our website to a .pdf file that shows those designated areas, which you can get to by clicking on this link Sex Offender Info. In addition, the Kohler Police Department has registered on the website Family Watchdog which is a State of Wisconsin site that will notify us in the event a sexual offender moves into the area. If you have questions or concerns, please call.
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With the gun deer hunting season right around the corner, the Kohler Police Department is reminding all those with firearms to use caution when handling firearms. Also, the Kohler Police Department continues to supply Masterlock trigger locks for all residents that want one. One free gunlock can be obtained from the police department just by stopping in. For those who have already obtained one in 2011, another can be obtained starting in 2012. In addition to the Masterlock trigger locks provided by the Kohler Police Department, a federal program, Project Childsafe continues to have locks available at the police department, while supplies last. These locks are the cable lock variety and anyone may request up to three of those for their guns too.
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School Street Stopping/Standing:
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In accordance with Wisconsin Statute 346.52, stopping and standing is prohibited on the nearside of a street adjacent to an elementary/middle school. This rule is in place for the safety of the students. Recently, we have seen an increase in the vehicles that are “just stopping for a second” in front of the school. This brief stop is preciously what needs to be avoided. Children may dart in front of stopped vehicles or between vehicles that they believe aren’t going to move. If inclement weather is occurring, use the north canopy drop off area to the school, which is the safer alternative.
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Occasionally the Kohler Police Department will receive complaints about parking problems throughout the Village. Typically neighbors don’t want to complain directly to their fellow neighbor, but call our department with questions or to start a complaint. Parking is restricted near the Kohler Company to 1 hour and 2 hour parking. The only exception is for residents of the Village of Kohler. All others must abide by the restriction. The rest of the Village has a restriction of 72-hour parking. No vehicle may be parked in one location for longer than 72-hours without being moved. Also, RV's, campers, boats, and trailers can only be parked on the street for up to 24 hours. In addition vehicles need to be 4 feet from a driveway, 10 feet from a fire hydrant, and 15 feet from a marked crosswalk. Please be aware of the parking restrictions.
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The Kohler Police Department has police patrols on-duty 24 hours a day. The office is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you need to contact our department, call 459-3877. If no one answers, you will be given menu options. Option #1 is to have an officer dispatched; this connects the caller with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Dispatch. I urge anyone that calls about an active incident, suspicion complaint, theft complaint, etc. to choose this option. We do have an officer on-duty option #2 if you would like the officers to be aware of something that isn’t urgent. The officers periodically check that message throughout their shifts. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 as that is the fastest way to be connected with the emergency dispatcher.
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The Kohler Police Department has two very dependable and dedicated crossing guards that keep the Village’s children safe. They provide a valuable service, at five different time intervals of up to almost an hour during lunchtime, during each and every school day. Please help them out by instructing your children that are going straight home to do so before the crossing guards are done with their shifts. If anyone has a question of the time intervals, please contact the police department or Officer Sass at the school.
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Recently some of the Kohler residents were victimized by having numerous items taken from unlocked vehicles. The items ranged from cash and CD's to credit/debit cards. Within days, the cards were being used in Milwaukee at gas pumps, etc. with no surveillance. That same night an unlocked vehicle with the keys inside was also taken. The vehicle was recovered in Milwaukee a week later, with numerous items also missing. Nothing was taken or done to locked vehicles in the area. Despite the best efforts of police, these types of crime can still happen. Don’t be a victim, keep your vehicles locked.
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Are you prepared for an Emergency?
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Another aspect of emergency planning for a community is trying to get the message out that each family have a plan if an emergency affects their home. Are you prepared for a short power outage, or loss of water pressure? Does your sump pump have battery backup if you loss power for several hours? Do you have a kit at home to provide food and water for three days in the event of a major disaster? The nation seems to be getting hit with natural disasters all the time, assistance for large areas may take time to have power grids restored or water systems repaired. Click on the following link to be redirected to the Emergency Preparedness site.
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Have you or someone you know been a victim of Identity Theft? Statistics show that over 8 million Americans have been a victim of identity theft. The perpetrators are looking for victims without criminal records and good credit ratings, that’s you! Protect yourself with some easy to do steps. Shredding your confidential mail is very important. Remove unnecessary identifying information from your checks, such as phone number and Drivers License number (a retailer will ask if they need it). Check your credit report annually for free at Annual Credit Report. You do not need to sign up for anything at the site to get the report. Stop unsolicited pre-approved credit cards from being mailed by calling 1-888-5-opt-out (1-888-567-8688), you can opt-out for life. Also, never answer questions about your identity on the phone or by unsolicited e-mails. Your bank or other financial institutions have all your information, they don’t need you to tell them again by e-mail or phone. You can view other ways to protect yourself and take a quiz to see if you could be a victim by clicking on the following link Identity Theft.
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Be careful on who you give your credit card information to. A scam that is becoming more prevalent is a phone caller posing as a credit card company saying they are looking into a suspicious charge on your account. They indicate that they don’t need your name or number, just asking about the charge. They tell you of a charge that is obviously fraudulent and make you feel that they are protecting you. Then they ask for your 3-digit code on the back of your card. This code allows them to use your card on the Internet, etc. Your credit card company will not ask you for that information, since they already have it. Never give out your date of birth, social security number, bank account number, pin numbers, or credit card numbers to callers. If you do receive a call, ask for their information and call them back at the legitimate number you already have in your records or the number on the back of your card.
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8-Year Old Booster Seat Law:
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Governor Doyle signed an 8-year old Booster Seat Law that went into effect June 1, 2006. The law requires children under 8 to be in a booster seat, unless they are over 80 pounds or taller than 4 ft. 9 inches. This law should make the children in Wisconsin safer while in vehicles. Many of the local stores carry these types of seats and can be purchased for under $25.
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Law Enforcement Solicitation:
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The Kohler Police Department receives numerous calls about phone solicitation from telemarketers on behalf of law enforcement. Many people have been wondering how that money affects the local police department. Our response is that we don’t receive any money from those solicitations, and I recommend that people don’t donate to these telemarketers. My recommendation would be for those that want to donate, do so directly to the charity of your choice. Telemarketing is a business and only a portion of that money goes to those associations/entities. Also, these types of calls can be annoying, but due to their affiliation with non-profit organizations, they are not restricted by the “No Call List”.
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Don’t forget that if you are planning to go away at any time during the year, that you may have the Kohler Police Department check your house while you are gone. Residents can now request a vacation check on-line through the Kohler Police Department’s web page, by stopping by the department, or calling. If you call outside of regular business hours you may leave a message too. In your message just include your name, address, duration of your vacation, and any other pertinent information that we may need to know. Some pertinent information may include lights that are on timers, alarms, and names of persons that may stop by or keyholders. Any other questions about this service, please call the police department.
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