Keep Yourself Safe While Holiday Shopping

As we approach one of the biggest shopping days of the year, it is always a good time to remind people to be safe during the holiday season. You should keep in mind the following holiday safety tips while out and about:

• Carry your valuables wisely. Do not keep cash in your wallet. Instead, keep it in an inside pocket and only carry the credit cards you'll need.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. If you must leave packages in your car, put them in the trunk. Keep receipts with you.
• Carry a cell phone with you. If someone makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, notify security or call the police.
• Whenever possible, park and walk in well-lit areas. Be aware of your surroundings, especially the people around you.
• Carry your purse close to you, with the opening or flap towards your body. Never leave a purse unattended in a shopping cart.
• Do not keep a wallet, credit cards or cash in a backpack. If you are in a crowd, consider carrying the backpack in front of you. Pickpockets can quickly and easily remove items from a backpack without being noticed by the owner.
• Protect your credit card numbers and other personal information. Carefully dispose of receipts that have a credit card number on them. Never provide credit card information in response to unsolicited calls or emails.

To report suspicious activity, please call 919-996-3335. For emergencies, call 911.

William Bunn Prep School Delivers Coloring Books to Area Hospitals

The members of the William Bunn Preparatory School and Moore Square Middle School Principal Dave Kershner (front row) pause for a photo with Master Officer Witherspoon, Capt. K.S. Craghead, William Bunn's grandparents and aunt, Lt. K.A. Carswell, Sgt. J.R. Marx and Senior Officer J.A. Priest after delivering several hundred coloring books to WakeMed Children's Hospital on November 22.

On November 22, Master Officer G. Witherspoon and the William Bunn Preparatory School class presented a big gift to the smallest patients at local hospitals—hundreds of coloring books, along with crayons, board games, and children’s DVDs to entertain youngsters while they undergo treatment.
 
Early in the school year, Witherspoon selected 10 seventh-grade boys from Moore Square Middle School in downtown Raleigh to become the first class in the William Bunn Preparatory School, which is named after the RPD’s first honorary officer and focuses on leadership, college preparation, and community service. For their first service project, Witherspoon and the class began in early October to collect coloring books and other items to keep kids entertained during long stays in the hospital. The class designed a flyer to post around their school asking for donations, and even organized a school dance with an admission fee of at least one coloring book.
 
In a matter of weeks, the class gathered more than 1,500 coloring books, which they will distribute to WakeMed, Rex, Duke, and UNC hospitals. In addition, Purple Elephant, a local non-profit agency that refurbishes donated computers and gives them to kids, agreed to contribute a desktop computer to each hospital’s pediatric department for young patients to use to work on homework assignments or play educational games.
 
Witherspoon chose the members of the William Bunn Preparatory School class based on their goal to attend college after graduating high school, and every Wednesday, the young men dress in their uniforms—a shirt and tie, sport coat, and slacks—and meet with Witherspoon, who will often bring in guest speakers to talk to them about what they should do to be successful in education and life. Captain K.S. Craghead and Lieutenant K.A. Carswell of the Downtown District recently visited the class to encourage them to strive for excellence while maintaining a humble spirit and making good choices.
 
Witherspoon says that he calls the William Bunn Preparatory School a “journey of education.” “I don’t call it a programbecause programs come and go,” said Witherspoon. “A program has an end. Education doesn’t have an end—it never stops.” He plans to take the class to visit N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke University so that the young men can experience the university environment and see what college classes are like. “I want them to envision themselves in college and understand that higher education is attainable,” said Witherspoon.
 
The class has already begun its next service project; together with members of the Caraleigh community in southwest Raleigh, they are collecting children’s books for the Salvation Army to distribute to Wake County families during the holiday season. According to Witherspoon, the group’s goal is to collect 5,000 books for kids of all ages.

RPD at the Raleigh Christmas Parade

Here's a video of RPD at the beginning of Raleigh's Christmas parade on Saturday, November 20. 

Graduation Ceremony Held for First RPD Volunteer Academy

The first RPD Volunteer Academy class graduated on November 16, 2010.

A graduation ceremony for 19 men and women who contribute service as police volunteers was held last night to mark the completion of the Raleigh Police Department’s first Volunteer Academy. The ceremony took place at the RPD police academy. Graduating volunteers received a total of 30 hours of training during courses spanning nine weeks.

The volunteers’ training included instruction on the operation of police radios and mobile computing terminals, community policing practices, legal and safety issues, report writing, ethics and other relevant topics.

Since January 1 of this year, RPD volunteers have donated more than 3,400 hours of service to the department. They have worked in the police records section, patrolled neighborhoods and parks in specially marked volunteer vehicles, assisted with documenting and reporting graffiti and abandoned vehicles, patrolled city parks and greenways on bicycles, assisted with events at the new downtown amphitheater, and performed many other assignments.

Request for Assistance-Robbery Suspect

Raleigh Police Department detectives are seeking information that could help them identify and arrest the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photo.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, the suspect entered a convenience store at 1400 Garner Road and committed an armed robbery. The suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired multiple shots through an opening in a protective enclosure surrounding the store clerk. The clerk was not injured. The suspect fled after stealing cash he was able to grab through the enclosure opening.

The suspect is described as a black male in his thirties who stands about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He was wearing the clothing seen in the photos, including a black jacket and a black “winter” hat.

Anyone who has information that might assist detectives in identify the suspect is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Suspect Charged in Stabbing on Sardis Drive

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. yesterday, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to 801 Sardis Drive in response to a stabbing call. Upon arrival, the officers located a female victim, Bernice Cobb, 46, who was pronounced deceased at the call location.

An individual at the scene when officers arrived, Rachel Beatrice Williams, 33, was detained. After further investigation, a warrant was obtained charging Williams with murder in connection with the death. She will be transported to the Wake County Jail in the immediate future.

The incident is not believed to have been a random act. The investigation of the case is continuing.

Deceased Person Discovered on Askew Lane

At approximately 2:40 p.m. yesterday Raleigh Police Department officers and detectives responded to 2602 Askew Lane. The call involved two residents of that address who had been overcome by carbon monoxide fumes resulting from a vehicle that had been left running in the garage of the residence.

The female resident, Sarah Fernside Tanner, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene. The male resident, James Mahan Tanner Jr., 64, was transported to Duke Hospital in Durham for treatment of his exposure-related injuries.

No foul play is suspected in the case.

Based upon the current findings of the investigation, it does not appear that a remote vehicle- starting device played a role in the exposures.

Request for Assistance - Home Invasion Suspect

At approximately 10 p.m. September 24, a home invasion robbery was attempted at 1723 Crossroads Arbor Way. Two male suspects forced their way into an apartment, assaulted two victims who were inside the residence, and attempted the armed robbery. The victims fought off the suspects, who fled before being able to complete the robbery.

One of the suspects has been identified, and investigative work remains on going to identify the second suspect.

Warrants have been obtained charging the identified suspect, Gavin Troy Grant (DOB 3/12/85), with first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Grant is a black male who stands approximately 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 220 pounds.

Efforts to locate Grant remain underway, and anyone with information concerning his whereabouts or other information that may assist the investigation of the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Reminder: Promotional Ceremony Today at 2:30

At 2:30 p.m., the RPD will conduct the largest promotional ceremony in its history. The department will promote one of its members to the rank of captain, 21 to the rank of lieutenant, 49 to the rank of sergeant and 40 to the rank of detective. The ceremony will be held in Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. All are welcome to attend.

Behind the Badge with Chief Harry Dolan will feature Mounted Unit

Don't forget to tune in live next Monday, November 8 to Behind the Badge with Chief Harry Dolan on Shaw University's radio station, WSHA 88.9.

This month's program will  feature members from the RPD's Mounted Unit. And if you aren't able to tune in on Monday, they will rebroadcast the show on Saturday, November 13 at 11 a.m.