Yarmouth Police Department reaches over 10,000 Likes on Facebook…

CYBERSPACE – At a time when community relationships are everything, the Yarmouth Police Department has reached over 10,000 organic Facebook “Likes!”

(Organic meaning the total number of unique people who reached and liked their page through unpaid attraction.)

This is important because the number of Likes is a report card of sorts, one which shows the growing number of people who visit their page, find value, and support their outreach efforts on social media.

It’s good police work!

In the days long before the internet we had Television shows like Adam 12. For many, this was our very first look into the ideals and intentions of good cops. Every kid in the land knew the L.A.P.D. motto “to protect and to serve.” It was, and is, a positive example of how the media can bolster and support the cause of law and order.

In the case of the Yarmouth Police Department, they have used Facebook to inform and reach out to their community and beyond. Police and citizens interact and communicate daily through Facebook posts and messages. It’s a mutual thing, the citizens and police supporting each other in the cause of making the community stronger and better.

In short, police work on Facebook pays countless dividends. Questions are answered. Information shared. The lines of communication are a two-way street. It makes us realize we are all in this together!

It’s definitely positive to see so many are “liking” a police department’s Facebook outreach efforts. It shows the YPD is taking advantage of a major opportunity to connect with the people they serve.

Reaching out and forming positive relationships with the community is a new norm in law enforcement. It doesn’t cost anything to reach out. But the benefits and rewards are endless.

When you break it down, law enforcement is mostly about communication. Effective cops communicate very well… and are always looking at ways to become more effective at it. [Anecdotally, HN has observed the police officers with strong positive communication skills tend to be much happier and better adjusted to their chosen profession.]

The YPD is not alone in successful Facebook efforts. The Barnstable Police Department has over 8,000 Likes on their page. The Bourne Police Department had a whopping 46,421 Likes at the time of this report…

… the important thing is the Cape’s police departments are making efforts to reach out on popular social media sites. They also appear to be having fun at it as well… and there is nothing wrong with a little fun.

To be fair, some departments had a head start on Facebook and the number of Likes is not the only indicator a department is doing a good job with their image in the community… but lets face it, having a lot of organic Likes on Facebook doesn’t hurt.

Positive communication never hurts.

In other news:

PHOTO: Slashed…

Barnstable Police received a report someone had just slashed the tires on this vehicle parked at an address on Able Way in Marstons Mills last evening. According to the caller, the suspect was still in the area driving around. Officers arrived and gathered evidence and have a suspect they will be speaking with in the near future.

In other news:

(The following is the actual YPD press statement)

PAC and Patrol Officers with K9 Thor Nail Wanted Cocaine Dealer

On Tuesday, January, 5, 2016 at approximately 2:00 PM, Yarmouth Police Department Proactive Anti-Crime Unit Officer Christopher VanNess observed a gray 2005 Ford Taurus bearing MA Reg 382WP7 traveling eastbound on Route 28 in West Yarmouth. The Taurus was displaying a red rejected inspection sticker which had a red ‘R’ indicating that the vehicle was rejected for safety reasons.

PAC officer VanNess conducted a motor vehicle stop of the vehicle on Route 28 near Standish Way. The vehicle had four occupants, all of which were not wearing their seat belts. The operator stated that he did not have any ID on his person, but admitted that his license was suspended. The operator identified himself as Andrew V. Pitts. The other occupants were identified as: Stefan S. James seated in the front passenger seat, Kyle R. McDowell seated in the rear passenger side seat and Kelly Ridley seated in the rear seat directly behind the operator.

A license check of Pitts confirmed his license to be in fact suspended for Possession to Distribute Class A Heroin. At this time Patrol Sergeant Gerard Britt, Patrol Officer Brian Niezgoda, and K9 Patrol Officer Mike Kramer arrived to provide backup.

A computerized warrant check by Yarmouth Police Dispatcher Maria Curtis revealed three active Arrest Warrants for James out of Barnstable District Court for Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct, and Two Counts of Operating after License Suspension

Both Pitts and James were placed under arrest. Before James was placed in the rear of Officer Kramer’s cruiser, he was pat frisked at which time James stated to Officer Kramer that he had two Percocet pills in his front right pants pocket. Officer Kramer removed a cellophane wrapper which contained two green round pills scored ‘A/49’. These are known as Oxycodone 15 mg dose.

Both subjects were transported to Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters. The passengers were released. The vehicle was towed away for safety reasons.

Yarmouth Police Department K9 Patrol Officer Sean Gannon and his Drug Detection K-9 Thor conducted a check of Pitts and James during the booking process at Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters. K9 Thor indicated that drugs were present in the anal and buttocks area of James pants. The clear plastic baggies which were subsequently removed from James underwear contained a chunky white powder which would later field test positive for the presence of cocaine.

Using a TruNarc Raman Spectrometer, Yarmouth Police Detective Scott Lundegren tested the white powder which confirmed the presence of cocaine. The two knotted baggies weighed a total of 38.44 grams. This exhibit as well as the oxycodone pills and a small bag of marijuana found in vehicle were later placed into Yarmouth Police Department evidence to await further analysis at the state lab.

Both James and Pitts were processed. Pitts did not have any contraband on his person. Bail was set at personal recognizance $40.00 for Pitts and $190.00 for James per the Bail Commissioner.

James was found to be in possession of $620.00 and the money was seized and reflects cash proceeds indicative of being obtained through drug transactions.

Both Pitts and James were able to post bail later in the evening and [were] scheduled for arraignment in the Barnstable District Court [Wednesday].

Arrest: STEFAN S. JAMES Age: 21

Address: 90 KILKORE DR HYANNIS, MA

Charges: WARRANT

WARRANT

POSSESS CLASS B COCAINE

COCAINE TRAFFICKING

Arrest: ANDREW V. PITTS Age: 26

Address: 32 COUNTY SEAT ST HYANNIS, MA

Charges: OP MV WITH LICENSE SUSPENDED

MV NOT MEETING RMV SAFETY STANDARDS

[This media release was prepared and distributed by Yarmouth Police Department Deputy Chief of Police Steven G. Xiarhos]