Community Briefing

The Brown Deer Police Department has had some recent additions to their staff to fill vacancies made by people leaving and there have been some promotions also.  We would like to recognize the following personnel and welcome them to our community and the department, or congragulate them on their advancement:

Dispatcher Chad Capelle was hired in May 2009 as a full time dispatcher.  Dispatcher Capelle is married and has three sons, ages 3-8 years old.  He enjoys following the Brewers and Packers in his spare time.

Officer Matthew Katz was hired in June 2009.  Officer Katz brings with him six years of experience from the Oshkosh Police Department.  He chose to leave the Oshkosh PD so he could move closer to his family who live in the Milwaukee area.  Officer Katz enjoys golfing, camping and hiking.

Dispatcher Rebecca Lopez was hired in August 2009 as a full time dispatcher.  Dispatcher Lopez has previous experience in customer service.  She is married with three small children, ages 2-4.

Sergeant Daniel Krohn was promoted in April 2009.  Sergeant Krohn was hired as a patrol officer in June 2001 and investigated numerous drug and robbery cases.  Sergeant Krohn has a history of law enforcement in his family, his father is retired from Milwaukee Police Department where he served there as a Sergeant and Dan also has an uncle in the profession.  Sergeant Krohn’s hobbies include golf, tennis and working on his home.

We are happy to announce these additions and wish them well in their career with the police department!

With summertime, long days and nice weather upon us the Brown Deer Police Department would like to take time to explain certain ordinances applying to bicycles, skateboards, and other play vehicles to all of our residents. The Brown Deer Police Department hopes with a better understanding of these ordinances we can all enjoy a safe summer together. Before explaining the ordinances we would like to explain what is specifically meant by a “Play Vehicle” 

Brown Deer Village Ordinance defines a Play Vehicle as Follows: Bicycles with a seat tube dimension of less that 12 inches including tricycles, coasters, roller skates, sleds, toboggans, skateboards, roller skis, or any other toy vehicle.

Brown Deer Village Ordinance VL1-10-2.02 prohibits the use of skateboards and other play vehicles on any roadway, private business property and sidewalks in commercial or business districts. Skateboards can be used on your own private property and on sidewalks in residential areas; however, skateboards shall not be ridden in a negligent manner at any time. When riding a skateboard you must always exercise due care for the safety and welfare or other persons.

Whenever operating a bicycle upon a bicycle lane, on the sidewalk, or in the roadway always remember never to carry more persons than which the bicycle is designed for. If you are riding your bicycle on the sidewalk always be sure to yield the right of way to any pedestrian and always exercise due care when approaching or passing someone. If you are riding your bicycle upon a roadway be sure to stay within three feet of the right side of the roadway. Bicycles should always be licensed, and equipped with proper safety equipment such as lights.

Also residents should be aware it is unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle upon public or private property within the Village of Brown Deer. Any other type of motorized vehicle driven upon the roadway requires the vehicle to be registered and the driver to have a valid driver’s license.

The Brown Deer Police Department hopes to enjoy a great summer along with our residents. We hope this information is useful and allows everyone to enjoy a safe summer. If there are any questions regarding these ordinances feel free to contact The Brown Deer Police Department at (414)371-2900.

The Brown Deer Police Department has a speed trailer that has the ability to count traffic, detect speed and it maintains date and times of vehicle traffic so the police department can direct their enforcement actions consistent with vehicle traffic patterns. The speed trailer can also be used for traffic counts for other Village departments to determine if there is a need for street changes or possible sign changes. For more information or questions regarding the speed trailer or a request for the trailer to be temporarily placed on a road in your area (within the Village) call the Police Department at 371-2900

With summer soon approaching and more people becoming active outdoors, it is imperative that drivers be more cognizant of their speed especially in subdivisions. Their will be more children outside, more people will be outdoors walking, jogging, riding bicycles, out with their pets, doing yard work or simply outside enjoying day Even traveling at the residential speed limit of 25 mph, a car covers 36.66 feet per second. Most people require one to three seconds to react. Under these circumstances, a car will travel between 37 and 110 feet before a driver reacts. This does not take into account the mechanical condition, brakes, tires, etc, of the vehicle driven or weather conditions. This means that when driving the speed limit, reacting within one second with a perfectly tuned vehicle on a dry sunny day your vehicle will travel up to 37 feet before stopping.

If you need to get somewhere, leave a little early to give yourself enough time to get to you location safely. Drive safe and have a pleasant summer.

A bicycle is a legal vehicle whose operator is required to follow all traffic laws. This means stopping for stop signs and red lights if traveling in the street and riding on the same side of the road as other traffic that is going in the same direction. Bicyclists must be treated as equal users by all other vehicles.

Bicycles are particularly vulnerable among road vehicles. There are several simple things bicyclists can do to greatly reduce their risk of crash, death or injury.

The best way is to avoid common bicyclist errors or to be prepared to avoid common motorist errors committed around bicyclists.

Riding Tips:

Wear bright colors during the day and retro-reflective items at night along with headlight and taillight to increase your visibility to other road users. Wear a bicycle helmet on every ride to reduce your chance of head injury in event of a fall or crash. Most serious injuries from a fall or crash are to the head and most frequently, the forehead, so wear helmet level with the ground, just above the eyebrows. Be aware of changing road surfaces, new construction or unusual barriers on the roadway, distracters for both you and other vehicle operators. Leaves can be slippery in the early morning and are a hazard even when slightly damp. Distractions such as dogs, wild animals and even humans can draw attention from the roadway and lead to a crash. Expect them.

Motorist Reminders:

Bicycles are vehicles. They belong on the road. Cyclists need room to get around potholes, sewer grates and other obstructions. Leave at least three feet when passing bicycles, more room at higher speeds. Change lanes to pass any bicycle traveling in a narrow lane. Train yourself to scan for fast moving (it's hard to tell speed) bicycles and motorcycles in the opposing lane to you when turning left, and scan sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians and bicyclists using the sidewalk and crosswalk as a pedestrian. Always scan to your right side sidewalk before you leave a stop light or stop sign and to the left and right side sidewalks when on a one-way street.

• Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation. More than 26 percent of Wisconsin adults who were surveyed admitted that they had driven under the influence of alcohol in the previous year, according to a nationwide study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.cfm) released in April 2008.
•  More than 42,000 drivers - about equal to the population of Fond du Lac - were convicted of drunken driving offenses in Wisconsin in 2007.

• Alcohol-related crashes killed 337 people in Wisconsin and injured more than 5,500 in 2007.
• Approximately 46 percent of all fatal traffic crashes in Wisconsin are alcohol-related, and 47 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Wisconsin are alcohol-related.

• Choosing to drive while impaired by alcohol or other drugs could be a decision you'll regret the rest of your life.
• If you're arrested, you can lose your license as well as a huge amount of money.
• Repeat drunken driving offenders also face imprisonment.
• If you hurt or kill someone in a crash you could face extremely serious charges, like negligent homicide or operating while intoxicated (OWI) causing injury.
• Refuse a blood/breath alcohol concentration (BAC) test and you will lose your license on the spot for at least one year and you may have your car impounded.
• If you drive drunk with a child under age 16 in the vehicle, the penalties will double.
• If you have two prior drunken driving convictions and have a BAC over 0.17, the penalties are multiplied.

• Choose a sober designated driver before you start drinking.
• If you're feeling buzzed, you probably are over the 0.08 limit and should not drive.
• Rather than risk an arrest or even worse a crash, take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Save a life - don't let your friends drive drunk.
• Don’t serve intoxicated patrons. In addition, some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home. Visit www.tlw.org/ (Tavern League of Wisconsin website)
• Report impaired drivers to law enforcement or call 911.
• Driving defensively and wearing your seat belt or using protective gear on your motorcycle is your best protection against an impaired driver.

Many people in our community are not aware that the Brown Deer Police Department has a very committed and dedicated group of Chaplains.

We recognize that in our line of work, we sometimes meet people in the worst circumstances of life and when they need help the most.  In addition, we recognize that the stresses of the job can sometimes take its toll on the individual officer or the department as a whole. It is for these reasons that we have the Chaplains Corps.

The Chaplain Corps allows access to qualified, licensed members of the clergy from our community that are willing to assist officers and citizens and are multi-denominational.  They are able to respond to the scenes of stressful, traumatic incidents or situations. Chaplains may also be a referral for assistance at a later time.

Our group of Chaplains has been serving the community for over six years now and has responded to many events and situations. The assistance they have been able to offer has been very effective and they are all very willing to serve.

Our Chaplains are all members of the International Conference of Police Chaplains and receive annual training in many aspects of police work and skills in handling the situations that may arise in which they may be needed

Now that the holidays have wrapped up, SCHOOL is back in session. This means drivers need to watch out for the school buses and child pedestrians in the village. Here are some helpful reminders regarding traffic safety and school zones:

When traveling in a school zone there is always a potential of children darting out into the roadway or oncoming traffic. Therefore, motorists traveling through school zones need to travel safely and obey the traffic laws.

Each school zone will have School Zone Speed Limit Signs posted. These signs designate that the School Zone Speed Limit is 15 MPH. This speed limit applies any time children are present, whether the children are on the adjacent sidewalks, parking lots, or on the roadway.

If a motorist is caught violating the School Zone Speed Limit, the penalties are stiff.  For example, if a motorist was stopped for traveling 40 MPH in a regular 35 mph Speed Zone (5mph over the limit), they would receive a citation for  $83.80 and up to 3 points. HOWEVER, if this violation occurred in a School Zone (15 mph speed limit when children are present), the driver would be traveling 25mph over the School Zone Speed Limit and would result in a citation for $172.00 and up to 6 points.

In addition to School Zones, here are other traffic laws to be aware of:

Motorists must stop on at least 20 feet or more from any school bus that has stopped and is flashing red warning lights.

Ø      This applies to motorists approaching from both the rear and the opposing lanes.

Ø      All lanes of traffic must stop for the school bus except in the opposing lanes if the highway is divided with a center median

Ø      No vehicle may proceed until the bus resumes motion and has turned off the red warning lights.

Ø      Just because the “Stop” sign is not extended on the bus, doesn’t not give a motorist the right to pass the bus. If the flashing red lights are activated, STOP.

If you violated this traffic law, you would be cited with a fine of $235.00 and up to 4 points.

An owner of a vehicle involved in a violation may be cited for the infraction if the driver of the vehicle at the time the violation occurred cannot be identified.

According to Wisconsin state law, drivers must:

Ø      Yield to pedestrians who have started crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light.

Ø      Yield to Pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there is no traffic lights or control signals.

Ø      Yield to pedestrians when a vehicle is crossing a sidewalk or entering a driveway

Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians legally crossing the roadway may be issued citations with fines ranging from $109.00 to $235.00 (depending on the violation).

Probationary drivers, such as high school students, especially need to be cautious in School Zones. These drivers risk having their citation points doubled and the possibility of losing their license if they accumulate too many points.

Drive Safely!

PREPARE for the trip;

• During daylight, rehearse maneuvers slowly on the ice or snow in an empty lot
• Steer into a skid
• Know what your brakes will do, stomp on anti-lock brakes.
• Stopping distances are longer on water-covered and normal ice.
• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.

The Brown Deer Police Department will be offering its Citizens Police Academy for area residents.  The Academy will begin on Wednesday, February 4, 2009.  The nine week course, which meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., provides insights into police operations and includes a variety of presentations from members of the department.  Applications are available at the Department, 4800 West Green Brook Drive.  Stop by today and pick yours up, we look forward to seeing you there!

Recently the crime information line that had been in place until late last year was resurrected.  Citizens who wish to obtain current information concerning crime and other criminal activity that may affect them can be obtained by calling:

This information is updated weekly.

How often do you see late night infomercials and advertisements that promise a big return on very little investment?  We all know better than to readily accept that so much can be gained when there is minimal effort involved.  Most of us function under the understanding that, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn’t.”   However, I happen to know of at least one program that through your minimal effort a significant gain can be made.  The program that provides this opportunity is known as the “Neighborhood Watch Group.”

The Neighborhood Watch Group functions under the understanding that the level of safety and security one experiences in a community is directly related to the involvement of its citizens with the local police department.  Neighborhood Watch members are citizens who make a very small “pledge” or “commitment” that they will take a few moments of their time and look at what is going on around them when they are out and about in their neighborhoods.  If they observe something suspicious or that seems otherwise unusual, or if they witness an actual crime in progress, they understand that it is their duty to call the police immediately and report the details of the circumstance. 

Looking around you while you are out in your neighborhood and training yourself to look more closely at unusual occurrences or for the presence of unusual and unknown people in your neighborhood is, truly, a minimal commitment that one can make.  Those people who have made this pledge in the past and have had the experience of calling in activity that resulted in the successful disruption of a criminal event or the apprehension of a suspect, know the rewards their effort has paid to themselves and their neighbors.

Beyond regularly observing their surroundings, the next level of participation one can make in the Neighborhood Watch Group involves participation in any of the quarterly meetings that the group holds.  During these meetings a citizen has the opportunity to meet some of the police officers who work in their community and become more familiar with them.  The citizen also educates themselves about different crimes, recent activities in the community, and other attempts by those who wish to victimize innocent citizens.  The participant also learns about the different resources available to them so they may stay updated and learn about these crimes and various ploys.

The final level of participation a Neighborhood Watch Group member may engage in is sharing the information they have received with their friends and neighbors.  The sharing of this knowledge can help protect loved ones and friends from falling victim to a criminal – which is one of the most valuable gains one can obtain from their minimal involvement in Neighborhood Watch.

The Brown Deer Police Department is currently making a push to increase the involvement of its citizens in the Neighborhood Watch Group.  Our ultimate goal is to have one person on each block in Brown Deer to be a registered participant in Neighborhood Watch.  Please consider becoming involved in our community Neighborhood Watch Group and help to make Brown Deer one of the best and safest places to live.  The members of the Brown Deer Police Department will welcome working hand in hand with you to accomplish this goal.

If you are interested and for further information, contact Augie Zanowski at 414-354-8599, or Officer Brad Caddock at 414-371-2900

Too often citizens find themselves to be the first person to witness something “unusual” or “out of the ordinary” that may require the attention of the police in order to avoid a crime being committed and another person being victimized.  Sometimes, you may even be the first to observe an actual crime, like a bank robbery, or you may even be the victim of one!  If you happen to ever encounter a situation like this please try to remember  to CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY! 

This may seem like a no brainer; but after having been faced with a stressful or unusual situation, sometimes you may forget that the most important people to contact in order to help you and make you feel somewhat safe again is the police.  The police department would like to remind you that  seconds count when police are responding to a crime and that timeliness in reporting information to the police increases our ability to get to you and help you and to“catch the bad guy.” 

After witnessing and/or being the victim of a crime, your first call should go to the police department!  Remember, if you are using a cell phone your 911 call will automatically go to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department.  If the crime and/or incident occurred in Brown Deer and you call 911 on a cellular telephone, request to be connected to the Brown Deer Police Department. 

Here are some general tips when calling 911:

·                    Try and be calm so the dispatcher can understand where you are and what is happening!

·                    Try to give landmarks instead of direction of travel.  During stressful times, your sense of direction may inaccurate.

·                    Give as much information as possible such as clothing and/or vehicle description.

·                    Stay put! If it’s safe to do so.  Officers will eventually have to find you to obtain a full statement.  Wait for officers to arrive before leaving!

·                    If calling from a cell phone, give the dispatcher your cell phone number in case you get disconnected.  Contrary to belief, this does not automatically register with our computer system.

Witnesses are very important in helping to solve crimes.  If you see something, report it to the police right away!  Recently we had two crimes where a citizen either saw something and only told a business employee or waited for several minutes to call the police.  In the case where the citizen waited, a squad had been in the immediate area of the crime and may have been able to stop the suspect if the officer would have obtained the information in a more timely manner.

If you are a business owner, you may want to review your operating procedures.  In one of the above examples the business employee was required by their policies to call the manager first.  Protocols such as this delay the police response and lessen our opportunity to apprehend criminals fleeing the scene.  If your business protocol is to first call the manager after a crime, please discuss this article with him/her, because when it comes to catching the “ad guy” or recovering your company’s or customer’s assets, time is of the essence! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Brown Deer Police Department at 371-2900.