As an association, members of TPOA’s executive board had the privilege of meeting with the candidates running for the City of Tigard’s two open city council positions. Although all of the candidates were well
qualified and would do an excellent job in leading the City of Tigard into the future, TPOA is pleased to announce our endorsement of Heidi Lueb and Jeanette Shaw for Tigard City Council.
As an incumbent appointed to Tigard City Council in 2019, Heidi Lueb has demonstrated that she possesses the skills, knowledge and leadership to help guide the City of Tigard, moving forward. As an association, TPOA has had the opportunity to work with Heidi on several occasions. Heidi has consistently demonstrated great leadership, the ability to listen and comprehend complex issues, and a knack for coming up with great solutions. Heidi demonstrates great vision, and we believe she will help lead the City of Tigard beyond 2020.
During her conversations with TPOA, Jeanette Shaw has conveyed an impressive knowledge of issues the City of Tigard is currently facing and will likely be facing in the future. Although new to city government, Jeanette’s knowledge and experience in the community and outside will provide a new perspective, and her involvement will positively impact Tigard City Council. We believe Jeanette’s vision for the City of Tigard aligns well with what is needed to help lead the City forward in a positive direction.
As an association, we want to thank all the candidates that met with us and had conversations regarding their reason for running for Tigard City Council and providing us a glimpse of their vision for the City of Tigard. We want to encourage everyone to GET OUT AND VOTE.
Tigard Police Officers Association
For more information about these candidates, be sure to check out their websites/social media!
Heidi Lueb
Website: https://heidifortigard.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityCouncilorHeidiLueb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidi_lueb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigardcitycouncilorheidilueb/
Jeanette Shaw
Website: www.shawfortigard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawfortigard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawfortigard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawfortigard/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Transformation Commission:
Mayor Snider and Tigard City Council are working on a commission to look into aspects of policing that they have received comments or concerns about. Specifics about the commission, to include who will or could be on the commission as well as the topics that will or could be discussed can be found at the link below. The Tigard Police Officers Association has provided feedback on the proposed commission including conversations with Mayor Snider. The Mayor and City Council are continuing to take input and feedback on the commission draft until 8/4/20. As an association we encourage everyone to look at the draft and share any questions or concerns or feedback with the Mayor and City Council.
https://www.tigard-or.gov/city_hall/transformation_commission.php
Transit Police:
The Tigard Police Department has a long-standing relationship and partnership with TriMet. Currently the department has 4 Officers and a Sergeant assigned to the Transit Police which serves TriMet. Those Officers currently work out of either Portland or Gresham and respond to calls for service involving Max or TriMet buses/property throughout the Metro area. As talked about in the above mentioned transformation commission, we are looking at this partnership and how that relationship
should look like going forward. There is a lot in play here with a variety of different options.
School Resource Officers:
The Tigard Police Department has had over a 20-year relationship with the Tigard Tualatin School District (TTSD) in which we provided School Resource Officers (SROs). Our SROs work as a resource to the schools in several ways and have built relationships with both the schools and students. For the upcoming school year, the Tigard Police were to have two SROs assigned to the Tigard Schools and with the passing of the recent Public Safety Levy, money was included to add a third SRO.
The City of Tigard and TTSD have had an annual contract for the SROs, but the Tigard Police Department was recently notified by TTSD that they were currently not renewing that contract for the upcoming school year. Tigard Police Administration and the City of Tigard had already begun talks with TTSD to determine our future partnership. As an association we are hoping to continue these conversations and to continue our partnership with TTSD. We believe the SRO program is a great example of Community Policing and building relationships and trust within the community. We are hoping that there will be an opportunity for feedback and comments from the community and schools on the SRO program before a permanent decision is made.
We as an association just wanted to keep everyone informed on what we as your Tigard Police Department and as the Tigard Police Officers Association are doing in these current times. As an association we cannot thank the community enough for the outpouring of support. We have received so many thank you cards and notes as well as treats, that we could never reach out to each person individually to thank them. Our patrol officers are daily being approached by citizens voicing their support and well wishes. To have citizens voice their appreciation goes a long way. If you have specific concerns regarding any of the topics mentioned above, we encourage you to please reach out to the appropriate person or organization and let them know what you have to say. It’s your community.
Tigard Police Officers Association (TPOA)
On Sunday, we helped a family create some memories. Jerry is a 13 year old Golden Retriever who has been diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma and has 7-10 days left. His owners reached out and asked if we could check a box on Jerry’s bucket list to be a K-9 for a day. Check the box!
We know our community is facing a whole new set of challenges each and every day while we’re all doing our fair share to remain indoors and protect each other from the recent Coronavirus outbreak.
While working remotely seems simple enough here are some recommendations that can help you better adjust to these changes while you settle into a new work routine.
Share to help our community continue to #FlattenTheCurve and be sure to comment with your own tips!
Here are some preventative methods and information via the World Health Organization that can help keep our community informed and safe while we all face new challenges during the current Coronavirus outbreak.
Help Share these tips with our community so that we can all help #FlattenTheCurve!
Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
a>
Our priority will always be protecting our communities and amidst the Coronavirus outbreak, we’re still out there ensuring that everyone is safe while our nation experiences new challenges every day.
Here are some useful tips for our fellow officers to remember via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can help keep all of us protected as well.
Be sure to share and together we can all help #FlattenTheCurve!
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-law-enforcement.htmla>
It is with great regret that, for the first time in the event's history, the 39th Annual National Peace officers' Memorial Service in Washington, D.C. has been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Teams are consulting with the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and other groups to develop a fitting tribute to honor the families of the fallen for the 2019 calendar year and will develop a plan to move forward after this crisis subsides to honor the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes in the way that has been done over the last 39 years.
The National FOP and Memorial Committee will undertake an effort to have a meaningful and respectful media tribute to our fallen heroes on May 15th, National Peace Officers' Memorial Day.
It is with heavy sadness that we cannot come together this year, to grieve with our survivor families and draw strength from one another on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, but given the national crisis we must, as we always have, put the safety of the public first.
Please keep an eye out for updated information on how we will honor our fallen heroes once our nation recovers from this unprecedented pandemic.
NLEOMF - https://nleomf.org/a>
With the rise of Coronavirus and the Flu currently hitting people of all ages around the nation, we ask that our community not panic, follow these simple steps to help keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe!
Prevention is key so be sure to share this to help inform our community and let’s work together to put these best practices to use.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact or visit your local hospital for more information.
For more preventative measures and info please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmla>
Mayor Jason Snider paid a visit to KOIN 6 this morning to discuss the changes in policing.
Watch the full video below or by visiting KOIN.com.
Tigard Police Chief Kathy McAlpine recently joined Mayor Snider on an episode of Late Night in Tigard. Watch the full video below or by clicking HERE.
On 1-17-2020 Chief McAlpine along with Commanders McDonald and Rogers presented our annual “Of The Year” awards. While a lot of great work was done this year by our department some association members of special mention are:
April Keller - Officer of The Year
Megan Linn - Commendation Medal for her work at Tri Met
Dillon Blinn - Commendation Medal for 81 DUII arrests in 2019
Gabe Stone - Commendation Medal for meritorious service while assigned to Commercial Crimes Unit.
Kristan Rinell - For her “Be That Girl Class” and her work with DV Awareness Month
As an appreciation of your generosity and thoughtfulness, we want to take a moment to thank you!
Your charitable donation to Tigard Police Officers' Association means that we can continue to positively impact our community and support its local causes. This is what paying it forward is all about. By giving back in 2019 you’ve now shown others that you care about the future of our neighborhood.
Your generosity shows that you care about our local youth and police officers. That you strive to work together alongside us in caring for the well being of this community and each other. We can’t thank you enough for your signal of support.
Donors like you help us contribute to after school youth programs, events where we gather together to discuss important issues that affect all of us, and local charities that help those less fortunate than ourselves.
Your simple act of kindness raises the spirits of our officers. Knowing they have support from friends like you, brings a bit of peace and determination to their hearts as they patrol our streets at night.
You are now more than just someone that lives in our community: you helped invest in a brighter future, where we can make a more personal connection with our residents, help educate our youth, and create a safer environment not just now, but for tomorrow!
Thank you again for being a caring member of our community.
The Tigard Police Officers' Association
Your Donation is the fuel for all of it. From caring for the families of fallen officers to local youth programs, your support helps us build trust between our officers and residents; strengthening our community.
Our local law enforcement association continually gives its financial resources to help the growing number of people in our community who desperately need our assistance. Our officers personally volunteer hundreds of hours towards local programs and causes aimed to help our most precious commodity: Our children.
Here’s how YOU can help: Donate Today
When you Donate Today , you WILL help a variety of local causes
As first responders, we are sworn to place your safety above all else, and it is our honor to do so. But, we also know our commitment can’t stop when our shift ends. When you Donate Today , you are standing with us as partners; helping us to shape a brighter future.
We know the stronger our community is, the better we can protect you and our youth.
Thanks to generous donors like you, we can continue to serve our at risk youth and be leaders in our community.
Your support will help our officers build a brighter and safer future for us all.
Please give what you can, even $10 per month will make an impact! Together we can continue to help our community thrive!
With our heartfelt gratitude in advance, thank you.
The Tigard Police Officers' Association
Here at the Tigard Police Officers' Association we feel it is our duty and privilege to help spread the word. The simple truth is this: 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. This year alone over 250,000 women in our country will be diagnosed with the disease. It is the most common cancer among women worldwide.
These facts are not meant to terrify. They are the truth and why must we take it so seriously. But the news is not solely negative.
Leaps are being made with research using shared data across the world, and keeping a hard focus on awareness is helping U.S. women with early diagnosis and treatment. More cancer centers are being erected. Support groups and Internet education have an enormous reach now. One fantastic organization, Susan G. Komen has established a 24-hour Helpline to help patients and those who simply need support and information.
There is a ray of hope in all of this: there are over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today.
We refuse to rest on that statistic, however, with many needs still unmet. More research is needed. Continuous improvement is needed for existing treatment options. Institutes of Training and Higher Education need funding to carry on finding better and more effective forms of treatment. And women diagnosed or surviving need greater support.
Please take a few moments this month to learn more about breast cancer. Share this article with others. Send a link to a loved one. This is a battle for the women and families in our lives that are facing or may face this dreaded disease.
It has been said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. As long as we keep shining a light on breast cancer, the harder it will be able to hide in the shadows.
Thank You,
Tigard Police Officers' Association
Some good BCA information links:
· https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts
· https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month
· https://www.wearitpink.org/about/breast-cancer-awareness-month
· https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/best-blogs-of-the-year#3
· https://ww5.komen.org/
· https://pinkpatchproject.com/
Officer Eric Enzenberger takes us through a day in the life of a Tigard police officer and shows why minutes matter in our response times. He mentions, "Most of us do this job because of the involvement with the community. It’s addressing problems, but also creating relationships.” It’s challenging to maintain those relationships and provide the best service to our community without the resources we need. Over the last 5 years, response time to emergency calls has increased by over 20% and calls for service have increased by over 20% as our community has grown but our staffing levels have remained the same. We just can’t get there as fast as we’d like to. To learn what you can do, visit our website: https://tigard-or.gov/police/15calls.php
Oregon RifleWorks hosted their Sheephitters Party and raised money for the Washington County Deputies injured in the shooting near Hagg Lake. All proceeds were donated to our association so we could match the first $1000 in proceeds. The event raised $2251.61 and our $1000 additional donation will bring the total to $3251.61 for the injured deputies.
Thanks to everyone who participated and made this such a successful event!
Detectives Stone and Hahn of the Tigard Police Department log another big win. A massive nationwide investigation led the detectives to serve multiple search warrants and broke up a scam that had been logging victims in Tigard and multiple other jurisdictions.
This type of investigation requires hours of tireless and often times exhausting work by the Commercial Crimes Unit as they have to unfold the layers of criminal activity and complexity of an organized retail crime operation. These scammers preyed on the elderly, young, diverse and uninformed victims instructing them to purchase gift cards to pay them for fabricated debts. These gift cards were quickly used to purchase Apple products that were then shipped overseas.
This particular operation involved the resources of the FBI, Oregon City Police Department, Tualatin Police Department, Beaverton Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Keep up the good work guys. We are very proud to have you represent the City of Tigard and help keep Tigard safe for all of our citizens.
On 10/29/18 Detective and current TPOA President Hering retired from the Tigard Police Department after a long-distinguished career. Detective Hering has long served on the TPOA board in several capacities including Vice President and President. His presence and leadership on the board will greatly be missed. Have fun in the next chapter of your life.
On 7/9/18 Officer Ranum retired from the Tigard Police Department and was awarded his retirement gift from current TPOA President Hering. Officer Ranum had a long-distinguished career including a long service on the TPOA board. His presence and leadership on TPOAs board will greatly be missed. Have fun in the next chapter of your life.
On December 14, 2017, Matt Barbee was injured in an off-duty traffic accident while driving home from work. As a result of the accident, Matt’s prognosis was dire. We rallied to support Matt and his family, with officers remaining by Matt’s side 24 hours a day for the first week. Within two weeks, Matt’s outlook began to change. Matt, only Matt, could survive such a horrific accident! We began to focus on Matt’s future.
City of Tigard employee donations of time poured in quickly, with five months of donated time in place to keep Matt’s family income status quo as he continued to face what was ahead. Surgeries brought hope, but new concerns also emerged. There was no greater joy, though, as we all celebrated the tales of Matt requesting McDonald’s hamburgers and milkshakes, or walking into his hospital room and having him call you by name. We were all truly amazed. But, again… only Matt! We would expect nothing less than a miracle now.
The fundraising began almost immediately. Donations poured in at our Christmas party. Although a private party with just Matt’s coworkers present, the wallets opened. After all, it was for Matt. Online fundraising through the TPOA website reached concerned folks, near and far. The Tigard community, friends, and friends of friends, alike, gave what they could. A local pub, Tapphoria, held a fundraiser. The raffle prizes donated by a number of local businesses and a night of hope and joy raised a significant amount of money. Most importantly, it was all for Matt.
After months of reaching out, press releases, and social media awareness, we closed out the fundraiser and gave a check of more than $44,000 to Matt’s family. Matt was home, and now his recovery began. Matt will always face physical limitations due to the extent of his injuries, and healing from his traumatic brain injury is still part of the great unknown. It has been a year, quite a year on this roller coaster.
The man responsible for Matt’s accident has had his day in court and has started to serve his time. Regardless, no amount of jail time can turn back the clock and return Matt to his life before December 14, 2017. This week, Matt’s career with the Tigard Police Department officially closes, as he continues to focus on his recovery. Matt will forever be a “Brother in Blue,” that we surely know. It remains to be seen how far Matt can progress in his recovery - that chapter has yet to be written. We do know that if you know Matt, like we do, absolutely anything is possible.
Please join in our mission, and support the men and women of law enforcement, Donate Here!
Our officers frequently go into harm’s way to protect our community and defend our freedoms. When an officer is critically injured and their family needs support, WE are there. Our law enforcement Association provides the necessary support for medical bills, funeral expenses, and other critical needs. We stand by our officers and their families in times of need, and we are hoping you will stand side-by-side with us as partners.
YOUR generous donation will also help us support our community through programs like community outreach, little leagues, families in need, and other worthy causes. Click here to learn more about our efforts to improve our community.
That’s why we are asking for your Help, Please Donate Today!
YOU can join our police family and be part of a community team that connects us all!
Thank YOU for your time, your donation, and your committed support!
Highest Regards,
Tigard Police Officers' Association
9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs are a way for the law enforcement family, and the community to honor and remember the firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live.
Learn more about 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs
https://www.firehero.org/events/9-11-stair-climbs/
"We wanted to make sure this year we were here for little Aaron to make sure he got to school safe, just like his dad did about a year ago," said Southport Police Chief Tom Vaughn. "All those police cars down the street, I didn't imagine that many officers coming. We talk about the blue family and today really showed we are a true family."
Read Full Story - Click Below
https://www.wthr.com/article/police-officers-escort-lt-allans-son-first-day-school
New legislation, more community engagement, and bringing positive news to the forefront are some of the solutions in discussion.
To watch the full video, see the link below:
Taking a closer look at the dangers of being in law enforcement and knowing what has caused several deaths in the line of duty can help officers train more effectively to prevent more deaths in the future. A recent study has been released that outlines the biggest causes of officer deaths.
The top 3 findings were that 41% of fatal calls were domestic related, 47% of officers killed in car crashes were not wearing their seat belts, and 5% of officers were accidentally shot by other officers.
Click on the link below to read the full article.
One of the most moving ceremonies is the Annual Candlelight Vigil, where the names of fallen officers will be forever etched into the Memorial Wall. Unlike many memorials in Washington D.C, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is ever-changing as new names are added each year. A wreath will be laid for each fallen hero and their names will be read aloud to the thousands of people and loved ones.
For most, these touching events are a way of honoring the fallen, saying goodbye to their loved ones, or paying tribute to the brothers and sisters in blue who made the ultimate sacrifice. During Police Week, let us all take a moment to remember and recognize the heroes who laid down their own lives for the safety of ours. “The wicked flee when no man pursues but the righteous are bold as a lion”.
To learn more about Police Week, click here.
As of today, Matt Barbee will be spending the next few weeks at an acute rehabilitation center preparing for the transition to his home with his family. Unfortunately, Matt has a long uphill climb to recovery and will need continuous care once he arrives at home. Over the last several weeks, Matt has been through operations and procedures that have been very trying for his family and friends. On behalf of his family and the Tigard Police Officers’ Association, we would like to thank the men and women of the Tigard Police Department, City of Tigard, the Tigard community, local media and the hundreds of volunteers that have donated and helped the Barbee’s with support. It has truly been overwhelming to see what great support our brother has received in such a time of need.
Sincerely,
Jeff Hering
President
Tigard Police Officers’ Association
The Tigard Police Officers’ Association would like to express our gratitude for your overwhelming generosity during our “Red, White, Blue, and YOU” fundraising campaign. We truly live by our campaign slogan “One Nation, One Community, Many Voices, Under the Banner of Unity.” Together we do make our community a better and safe place to live and work.
We are honored to have your continued support, and we pledge to uphold our promises to give back to the community that we love.
Thank you to all of the donors who helped us reach our annual goal. Your generosity will make a difference that will benefit all our officers, fallen heroes and their families.
Sincerely,
Tigard Police Officers’ Association
On behalf of our officers and our fellow citizens, the Tigard Police Officers’ Association is asking you today for your support. While our nation is facing unprecedented times, we are thankful for our community who has stayed strong and united and we value the support you have shown our officers.
Donate Here Today!
The Tigard Police Officers’ Association is dedicated to safety and improving our community, but we need your help! Your support will allow us to continue to fund the much-needed areas within our community, such as: Police Officer Memorial & Survivors Funds, Community Outreach Events, Youth Programs, and much more!
Your generosity will make a difference that will benefit all our officers, fallen heroes, and families.
Join us as we launch this year's’ campaign, “Red, White, Blue and YOU: One Nation, One Community, Many Voices, Under the Banner of Unity.” Our goal is to provide high quality police services, while ensuring that the voice of our community is heard, and our citizens are safe.
HELP make our community the best it can be by donating today, Click Here!
What you give today, will help our community thrive tomorrow.
Highest Regards,
Tigard Police Officers’ Association
P.S. Donors who pledge $250 or more will receive a Toy K-9 and Lapel Pin. Donors who pledge $500 or more will receive a Custom Plaque, Toy K-9, and Lapel Pin.
David J. Morris, a former Marine infantry officer, has suffered with PTSD for years. In a fascinating first-hand account of his experience, which appears on The New York Times's website, he writes eloquently about his negative experiences with one VA's most popular treatments for PTSD, prolonged exposure therapy. After one month of treatment, Morris began to have problems.
If you have members suffering from PTSD following a traumatic incident, they might find this article interesting. You can also pass it along to the person in your agency, if there is one, who is involved with officer-wellness programs.
Morris has just written a book, The Evil Hours: A Biography of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, about his experiences trying to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder.Here are some excerpts from his Times piece that we found particularly interesting:
"There are two widely used treatments for PTSD at the V.A. One is called cognitive processing therapy. The other is prolonged exposure therapy, the effectiveness of which the V.A. heavily promotes. After explaining my symptoms to the intake coordinator, I was told that prolonged exposure was the best therapy for me. He said that the treatment worked for about 85 percent of people ("some pretty darn high odds if you ask me").
"The promise of prolonged exposure is that your response to your trauma can be unlearned by telling the story of it over and over again. The patient is asked to close his eyes, put himself back in the moment of maximum terror and recount the details of what happened. According to the theory, the more often the story is told in the safety of the therapy room, the more the memory of the event will be detoxified, stripped of its traumatic charge and transformed into something resembling a normal memory.
"The process sounded like all my dealings with the V.A.: Before you could find any relief, you had to traverse a little bit of hell.
"When I think back on that time, the word that comes to mind is 'nausea.' I felt sick inside, the blood hot in my veins. Never a good sleeper, I became an insomniac of the highest order. I couldn't read, let alone write. I laced up my sneakers and went for a run around my neighborhood, hoping for release in some roadwork; after a couple of blocks, my calves seized up. It was like my body was at war with itself. One day, my cellphone failed to dial out and I stabbed it repeatedly with a stainless steel knife until I bent the blade 90 degrees."
Copyright
© By PubSecAlliance.com
Though there have been many scares about what can happen to children or teenagers on the internet, adults should be safe as well. There is no limit to the amount of risk adults come in contact with such as sexual predators, criminals who are seeking out your personal information on social networking sites, buying habits, frequently used sites, and many others.
Here are some tips to help prevent you from being a target:
- Do not share things such as email addresses, usernames and passwords.
- Do not use usernames or passwords that include your name, birthdate, important numbers, or where you live.
- Keep your location safe. Never share where you live or where you are with anyone. It is important to keep the locations of others safe as well.
- Do not share photos of you or your family members.
- Do not use numbers that are personally identifiable such as your driver’s license number, wedding date, VIN numbers, locker combination, social security number, or any other type of number that can help predators identify you.
These preventions can be applied to all aspects of web use for communicating online, socializing, sharing images, gaming, purchasing products, identity theft, fraud, and others.
For Kids:
- Never give out personal information such as where you live, your name, and your phone number when in a chat room.
- Never send a picture of yourself without a parent’s permission.
- Do not continue speaking with a person that has made you feel scared or uncomfortable. Tell a parent if this happens.
- Without your parent's permission, don’t meet someone or have them visit you.
- Do not trust anyone, they could be lying to you.
- To be safe, keep the computer in a room used often by family members.
- Speak out when you are being bullied. Telling an adult is not a sign of weakness. Tell a trusted adult if you are being bullied.
Simple Crime Prevention:
Anyone can be a target of even the simplest of crimes. Here are some tips to keep you safe in your everyday life:
-Always be aware of your surroundings and who is around you. Take time to observe what people are wearing and what they look like in case you have to describe it later to someone.
-Do not leave any items in your car that may be seen as valuable to someone else. Do not give thieves the opportunity. Put valuables in the trunk or cover them so they are not visible from the outside.
-Do not leave packages on your door step or allow mail to pile up at your door. It is a sign that you are not home or that you do not care for your mail.
-Leave a light on throughout the night inside or outside your house to tell burglars you’re at home.
-When attacked, strike back by hitting a vulnerable spot or create a distraction to flee quickly.
-Do not fight back for your possessions if the thief is armed.
-Be cautious of strangers who want to use your phone.
-Check the floor and backseat of your car before getting in.
-Be defensive when driving. Park in well lit areas and gather all of your items before getting out.
-When using public transportation, wait in well lit areas, stand near other people, and use a schedule that reduces your wait time. But above all, be aware of strangers.
-While at home, do not answer the door for anyone that puts you in an uncomfortable situation.
-Keep doors and windows locked, install deadbolts on exterior doors, and have a lock on your bedroom door.
These simple things can keep you a lot safer and promote others to be safe as well.