Citizens become the victims of felonious assaults and murder in various ways. It is important to remember that when a person is a victim there is at least a 60% chance the victim is acquainted with their attacker. That statistic suggests that well over one-half of all assaults and murders happen between friends and relatives. Additionally, in a large percentage of cases substance abuse is involved. To lessen the risk of being a victim in these situations citizens should:

• Seek counseling or conflict resolution for serious domestic disputes
• Obtain legal intervention and shelter for domestic physical abuse
• Never remain in an abusive relationship
• Seek counseling and treatment for your substance abuse and that of other family members
• Do not use violence to resolve disputes of any type
• Obtain legal intervention for any physical attacks on your person

Females and children are especially vulnerable to attack by sexual predators. There are ways for females and parents to help protect themselves and their children from these attacks. For adult and young females these include:

• Never go out alone with a man you know nothing about
• Never allow any stranger, especially a male, into your home alone
• Keep all doors and windows locked at all times
• Never walk or jog alone, especially at night and in unfamiliar places
• Never venture alone into secluded areas such as apartment mail rooms, parking garages and etc
• Never give a ride to a man you know little or nothing about
• When traveling alone never stop in secluded areas for any reason
• ALWAYS BE HYPERVILIGENT and AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
• If possible keep a mobile telephone in your possession
• If you have car trouble while alone call for help and remain in your locked vehicle
• If physically able obtain good basic self defense training, such as the Sheriff's Office R.A.D. (Rape Agression Defense) classes.
• If you are the victim or target of a stalker notify local law enforcement immediately

• Do not allow your children to wander or walk alone without supervision of a responsible adult
• Never allow strangers to be alone with your children
• Communicate with your children
• Teach your children to never talk, ride or accept anything from strangers
• Teach your children to never enter the house of strangers
• Teach your children to tell you of any unusual or suspicious contacts by anyone, especially strangers
• Never allow your children to stay with friends whose parents and siblings you do not know
• Monitor your children's internet use
• Never allow your children to play unsupervised by a responsible adult where strangers may have access to them
• ALWAYS BE HYPERVILIGENT and AWARE OF YOUR CHILDRENS' WHEREABOUTS
• Report all unusual or suspicious activities towards children to local law enforcement
• Enroll your children in the Sheriff's Office R.A.D. Kids classes

Other places and times citizens should be alert for possible attacks are:

• Bars and clubs
• Parking areas of shopping centers and malls
• Convenience stores and fast food restaurants especially late at night
• Areas of high drug trafficking
• Areas of high prostitution activity
• Areas where groups of people congregate to drink alcohol, take drugs and participate in activities related to either of these

Other Safety Tips
Citizens become victims to accidents and self-inflicted wounds more often than they fall victim to assaults by other people. To prevent many of these from happening citizens can:

• Seek treatment for themselves and loved ones suffering from depression
• KEEP FIREARMS SECURE AND AWAY FROM CHILDREN
• Train your children in the proper handling of firearms
• Treat all firearms as if they are loaded
• Never leave young children unsupervised by a responsible adult around bath tubs, swimming pools, lakes or other bodies of water
• Never leave young children unsupervised by a responsible adult around power equipment, power tools and electricity
• Take only those drugs prescribed by a physician and in the proper quantities

Busy days are bad days for Murder Cops. Make our day. STAY SAFE.