2007 POP Projects
This project consisted of setting up meetings with the downtown bar owners to go over issues prior to the holiday season. The hope was to present a preliminary idea for door sings, as well as conduct a presentation about a ride share program and discuss several issues related to downtown bars and our interactions with the taverns.
During the meeting, topics discussed were: concerns and experiences in tavern complaints, concerns about how the police officers conduct business, improving lines of communication, the city ordinance point system and how it affects communication, underage drinking issues and the upcoming Fish Day issues.
To prevent open intoxicants leaving the bars, officers arranged to have large 55-gallon drums placed at the front and rear entrances of the taverns. This helped and many of the open public intoxicant issues were reduced significantly.
The intersection at W. Washington St. and N. Milwaukee St. had a line of sight obstruction on the southeast corner due to the growing vegetation and steel cable located on county property.
Officer Schmeling spoke with the Intern Parks Director for the county and advised him of the problem. While the county was restructuring this corner they were able to lower the grade and plant vegetation that would allow a better line of sight for drivers driving through this intersection.
Officer Czarnecki explained to the gas stations throughout the city that our department will only respond to gas drive off complaints where an actual license plate is obtained or a detailed description of the car and partial plate or detailed description of the driver are obtained.
Suggestions were made as to how to improve and prevent future gas drive offs which included a better environmental design and placement of additional cameras.
The Port Washington Police Department joined the International Walk to School Day held on October 23, 2007. Through this campaign children and adults around the world celebrated the benefits of walking and biking.
Port Washington families took the time to help promote health, safety and the environment by walking or biking together to school. With coordination from the schools, parents, teachers and children met at several locations and walked as a group to the elementary schools. Everyone enjoyed themselves and helped make this first time event for us a great annual campaign for the future!
Officer Schleg, in an effort to reduce the number of accidents and improve driver awareness, requested additional signs to warn drivers that traffic on Spring Street does not stop. This effort made a large improvement at a minimal cost to the city.
The meters throughout the city are old and deteriorating. The city was sending the meters out for repair and only 50% were returned as repairable.
Officer Footit was trained in how to repair the meters and made an effort to replace broken or worn parts with brand new parts. He initially started this in Municipal Lot #2, and with the great improvement it made, he continued on to the other lots.
At this time our meters are functioning better and the number of complaints brought in by the public of broken meters has decreased.
Our department received citizen complaints of speeding vehicles on Portview Drive in the area of Lincoln Ave. It is a problem that has worsened with the extension of Portview Drive onto W. Grand Avenue. It has become an additional concern due to the fact that there is a school bus stop at this corner as well as a playground at the Port Terrace Apartments.
Officer Keller recommended placing a stop sign at the corner of Lincoln and Portview to stop both northbound and southbound traffic on Portview Drive. The proposal was made to the Traffic Safety Committee. A state study was done and it was determined that there was no speed issue, so the stop sign proposal was not acted upon.
Officer Wolff wanted to extend the no parking area on both sides of N. Franklin St. at Jackson St by one car length. The reasoning for this was that it is difficult to see north or southbound traffic on Franklin St. when approaching the intersection from either East or West Jackson St. Also, during high volume pedestrian traffic, it is dangerous for pedestrians to cross N. Franklin St. due to vehicles on N. Franklin St. being unable to see them.
The Traffic Safety Committee agreed and Ordinance 2007-22 (Prohibiting Parking On A Portion Of N. Franklin St., South of Jackson St.) was made.
Police officers have been encountering citizens with identity theft complaints. In an effort to help our officers as well as the many victims of this offense, Officer Erickson created an Identity Theft Victim’s Packet. This packet provides answers to all the pertinent questions the police department and district attorney’s office needs for prosecution of a suspect. The packet also provides the victim with pertinent information so they can place alerts on their credit, provides advice if they are contacted by a collection agency, along with other helpful information.
Officer Erickson's Identity Theft Packet is available to all citizens on the Port Washington Police Department website. Click here for more information.
Truancy has been a large problem in the Port Washington School District. Until this point, after a child has reached Habitual Truancy Status (5 partial/full days), the student would be referred to the School Liaison Officer for issuance of a citation.
Officer Moertl met with the Assistant Principal on a regular basis to go over students that were missing school. She then made contact with them as well as their parents to find out what the cause was for the truancy, explanation of the laws and the reason they were in place. If the student continued to miss school, she met with the students prior to court and then was able to assist the student in speaking with the judge and coming up with solutions and contracts to help get the student back on the right track.
The DRE program consists of a highly trained officer in Drug Recognition. This program allows for the schools to identify someone they believe is under the influence of a drug and contact the DRE Officer to come and provide his services. Ozaukee County only has one DRE Officer, who is from Mequon Police Department. The testing is a non-evasive test and if the student agrees to the test (which consist of an eye check, blood pressure and a series of balance tests), it allows the officer to determine what kind of drug that student is on, if any. The student is not under arrest but may face school rule violation consequences. This also allows the school to identify possible drug problems and allocate help and resources to the student and family.
Crossing Guards had difficulty controlling traffic and pedestrians at the intersection of Holden St. and James Drive during afternoon school release.
Officer Nye provided extra cones for the crossing guards to use to help give them added control over the intersection. The cones were strategically placed along N. Holden St., north of W. James Dr., as well as at the intersection of N. Holden St. and W. James. Dr. The placement of these cones prohibited vehicles from making eastbound turns onto James Dr. and U-turns on Holden St. This provided additional coverage for the crossing guards and increased pedestrian safety. He also provided additional training and instruction to the crossing guards in how to use them effectively.
Complaints of traffic violations reported by the guards have significantly been reduced.
There has been some confusion on parking permits for the City parking lots.
Points that Diane Jung addressed were re-numbering lots, including a map with every parking permit issued, providing further information on the permits so individuals have an easier time understanding them, and recreating sizes and colors for officers to easily identify them with.
Parking permits may be obtained through the Port Washington Police Department and marina permits may be obtained through the Marina Control Building.
The Harbor Square Condo Association addressed several issues with the City of Port Washington. Some of these included signage and liability as well as maintenance of the public walkway and lighting from Fisherman’s Park.
Chief Thomas met with the Association president and assisted in providing answers and solutions to their concerns. They continue to meet regularly to discuss any problems they feel need to be addressed by the police department as well as the city.