This article is an effort to increase awareness of possible safety issues that are associated with our kids returning to school. Most of the information provided comes from Safe Kids USA.

Lt. Mark Askerlund said his final goodbyes to the city during a retirement party on August 3 at City Hall.

The Cottonwood Heights Police Department welcomed five new officers to the force and promoted another during a ceremony on Aug. 8.

This scam is actually very clever. There is never a shortage of creative thinking when it comes to frauds designed to get your money. This was sent to me by a friend: Beware of people bearing gifts.

Two Cottonwood Heights police officers are hanging up their badges. Officer Sam Dawson, who has served on the CHPD force since 2009 retired from police service in mid-July.

While most residents celebrated responsibly on July 4, some did not. One fire caused by fireworks in a residential area near Mountain View Cemetery quickly spread through a vacant field and nearly destroyed one home across the street from Bywater Park, while damaging other property adjacent to the field.

Cottonwood Heights Police hosted a barbecue in honor of our city’s dedicated neighborhood watch volunteers on July 13.

Unified Fire Authority posted a safety message on Facebook recently that reminds us not to leave children unattended in vehicles due to the risk of heatstroke death.

Neighbors helping neighbors: It's a simple adage and one that holds immeasurable power when it comes to keeping communities safe.

Cottonwood Heights Police is proud to welcome Brayden Phelps as one of its newest officers.

All summer long, people are outdoors working on projects like lawn care, hosting barbecues or relaxing by a pool. It can be easy to forget to close a door or window, but if they are left open it creates an easy opportunity for a burglar.

Twenty-five devoted residents got a first-hand look at law enforcement during a Citizens Academy, held by the Cottonwood Heights Police Department.

This young man was caught on video kid burgling a vehicle early Sunday morning (about 6-6:15 a.m.) near 7500 South and 2400 East.

Cottonwood Heights Police Chief Robby Russo was on hand for a ceremonial bill signing in early April that changed Utah code regarding dispensing Naxalone (Nar-Can) to people suffering from opiod/opiate overdose.

Gas stations have a unique setting that allows thieves to catch their victims by surprise.

The Cottonwood Heights Police Department is accepting applications from businesses to be included in a rotation list for towing services.

Despite taking all the right precautions, some bad guys will still take your things. That is why it is important to keep records, making it easier to get lost items back.

Times have changed with the internet and the powerful convenience of smartphones. The police department has seen a disturbing increase in crimes with serious risks associated with teen sexting in the city, including bullying and exposure to adult sexual predators that we’ve never seen before.

CHPD Officer Mathew Mann was honored by the Utah Chapter of the NAACP with a “First Responder” award during a ceremony on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January.

In 2014, the Utah Legislature passed the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which promised to reduce prison and jail overcrowding for those affected by substance abuse and mental illness. The approach was to use evidence-based data to target individuals who shouldn’t be locked up for being mentally ill or drug addicts and funnel them into treatment programs.

February is cause for much celebration. There’s Groundhog Day, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras and Superbowl Sunday. Since there never has been a problem adding new recognition days in February, I’d like to propose a new one. I call it “I Finally Got Those Security Cameras Installed Day.”

He’s a familiar face to thousands of kids in Cottonwood Heights, and Officer Michael Galieti has been a part of the Cottonwood Heights Police Department since its inception. Galieti held his final D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies in early January, just prior to his retirement from the CHPD. He will be missed.

In an effort to educate and connect with the great people of our city, the Cottonwood Heights Police Department offers a special training course called the “Citizens Police Academy.” The program’s intent is to allow citizens to gain a better understanding of how and why police officers do their jobs.

The Cottonwood Heights Amateur Radio Club (CHARC) placed first in the nation in the ‘Single Transmitter/Emergency Operations Center’ Category during the 2016 American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day held in June.

Locks are a significant part of protecting your home, your loved ones and possessions. There was a time when most felt safe leaving their doors unlocked. Times have changed, and so has the need to use locks for protection and to seek better locking technology for homes and businesses.

While most of us are recognizing and celebrating our traditions, there is that one group that takes advantage when we are at our most unguarded.

Unfortunately, our city is no stranger to fraud. I’ve written about scams, gift cards, check fraud and credit cards in the past, but there is also a huge counterfeit market for women’s bags and men’s Rolex watches.

On Sept. 30, 2016 Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch came together and put on a terrific dinner for law enforcement and their families at Mountview Park.

In 2014, 32 percent of Utah adults aged 18 years and older had been prescribed an opioid pain medication in the previous 12 months. Prescription opioids can be addictive and very dangerous.

It was a fun day for dogs of all kinds at Mountview Park on Sept. 17.

Several people have recently approached CHPD officers and showed support for their efforts in the wake of numerous police shootings around the country.

No neighborhood is completely immune to crime or accidents, but there are steps you can take to help keep your family and neighborhood safe.

Police need your help identifying and locating suspects in a burglary and credit card fraud case.

If you have ever been locked out of your home, were you able to get in anyway? If you could break into your own home, it’s just as easy for someone else to break in, too.

On July 12, CHPD welcomed two new officers and announced the promotion of Dan Bartlett to lieutenant.

Julie Sutch joins the CH Police Department as our newest support specialist.

Police Support Supervisor Sheila Jennings retired from duty in May. Sheila served for the past seven years, administering to all the needs of our police department.

Cottonwood Heights welcomes three new employees, including two new police officers.

Most of us know that 911 is the emergency number to call to help save a life, stop a crime or report a fire. But did you know that there are different ways to call, and each method provides the emergency operator with slightly different information?

It is that time of the year when we all start to live outside again. We get reacquainted with yards, neighbors and our community. We start to see animals we don’t recognize or find evidence that those same animals have been around doing what animals do.

Cottonwood Heights Police Department was the first Utah law enforcement agency to receive Naloxone (Nar-Can), a life-saving chemical that counteracts the effects of heroin and other opioid overdoses.

CHPD needs your help identifying a woman who passed a stolen credit card at “The Store” in Holladay and a Smith’s in Murray recently. The card was taken from a home in Cottonwood Heights.

We need your help to catch a thief.

Chelsea Larsen is a Runaway out of Cottonwood Heights. She has been missing since May 11, 2016.

These two men used a stolen credit card to buy debit cards at the Smith's on 4100 S. Redwood Road on April 15, 2016.

On April 6, a vehicle was burglarized near 6600 S. 2700 East.

The Cottonwood Heights Police Department is dispatched out of Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC). This is where the non-emergency and 9-1-1 calls for service are routed. Text-to-911 service makes it possible for those in need of emergency assistance to send a text message to 9-1-1.

Detective Michael Galieti always has his fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in our community.

Cottonwood Heights welcomed Officer Terence Wagner and Victim Advocate Nicole Huntsman to the CHPD family in January.

Cottonwood Heights citizens and our police are two parts of one team, but with different roles. Our citizen role is to “see something, say something,” to be vigilant, call 911 and report, but not intervene. Intervention and apprehension are the jobs of the police members of our team.

On Jan. 27, Ordinance Enforcement Officer John Lovato and police officer Polly Harris were making their usual rounds in the city when a call went out on the radio for a house fire. Since both officers were nearby, they arrived on scene at about the same time a crew from Unified Fire Authority got there.

The Cottonwood Heights Police Department has three canines assigned to handlers.

In an effort to educate and connect with the great people of our city, the Cottonwood Heights Police Department offers a special training course called the Citizens Police Academy.

These bikes will be up for auction shortly.

Following the arrest of two people on suspicion of several recent burglaries in and around Cottonwood Heights, police need your help to identify some the items recovered during their investigation.

In the 2015 General Session of the Utah Legislature, Senator Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs) authored the bill that would make medical cannabis available to those with severe or chronic disorders, such as cancer, intractable epilepsy, and HIV/AIDS. The bill made it to the Utah Senate last year and died by a narrow margin. Although 30 years ago I would have told you this would never happen in Utah, I fully expect a similar bill to be presented next year.

You may have noticed a lot of residential fires and other tragic events in news recently. You may also know that Cottonwood Heights has an active and engaged group of folks who want to do their part keep our neighborhoods safe.

The Cottonwood Height Police Department welcomed two new officers to the force in November.

On Nov. 20, the Cottonwood Heights Police Department launched its “3D” Blitz to combat drunk, impaired and distracted driving in the city.

During the holidays, the potential for thefts and robberies increase. More people are out and about, and they are carrying more gifts and money than during other times of the year.

The hiring of a police officer in this day is difficult and will likely get worse before it gets better. Competition for limited candidates is stronger than ever.

The problem of “squatting” could happen anywhere. It did happen earlier this summer near the intersection of Creek and Danish Roads. It started with a bank-owned home that had been vacated by the owners.

2015 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon and Half Marathon (Presented By Lexus) will occur on Saturday, September 19.

Utah is among other states using specialty courts to address veterans in the criminal justice system. Veterans’ court uses a problem-solving justice model, or a hybrid of drug treatment and mental health court models.

The 2015 Rivalry Relay Race will pass through Cottonwood Heights on the morning of Saturday, August 29.

This is the second in a series of articles that introduces the citizens of Cottonwood Heights to their Police Department Officers and helps us get to know them.

During the summer holidays, fireworks can be a big part of the fun…or a big problem. Here's what you need to know about fireworks in our city.

Cottonwood Heights welcomes new officer Jeffrey Gainey, who was sworn in during city council meeting on May 26.

Thieves are using numerous and inventive tactics to get at your mail. No one knows this more than our devoted mail carriers, like Rick Pixler, a diligent and observant letter carrier for over 25 years.

Two new officers were sworn in during a City Council Business Meeting on April 28.

Practicing the Neighborhood Watch Program’s motto, “We See, We Hear, We Call,” doesn’t take much extra time – it simply means being aware and alert to our surroundings – all the time!

Buying and selling items on the Internet is a common and growing practice. Unfortunately, so are people who fall victim to someone they agreed to meet on a network site such as Craigslist, EBay or KSL.com.

Crime statistic updates are presented monthly to the City Council outlining the previous month’s calls and crime trends. As this is prepared for the next issue of the city newsletter, the most recent month posted is December.

On Saturday, Aug 8, the 6th stage of the Tour of Utah will pass through Cottonwood Heights.