Coffee with a Cop & an Update on Rainier Buglaries

A second arrest was made in the burglaries in Rainier.  The bail for the second perpetrator was set at $80,000.  The Thurston County Sheriff's Office website should be updated with accurate and timely information on this arrest.  

Coffee with a Cop Comes to Rainier

 

Tuesday evening the 2 members of Thurston County Sheriffs Department, John Snaza & Paul Counts, came to Rainier with a large pot of coffee at Sonja's restaurant to meet with local citizens.   Superintendent of Rainier Public Schools Tim Garchow, Mayor Randy Schleis , councilman Dennis McVey joined the meeting, along with local business owners and concerned citizens of Rainier.  Over 30 people attended the meeting, which was scheduled for 60 minutes, but ran for over two hours.

 

This was the first meeting of “Coffee with a Cop” in Rainier.   There are at least  five more meetings scheduled at 6 pm on the third Tuesday of each month, at Sonja’s Restaurant.  Sherriff John served coffee to all, as Lt. Paul Counts opened the meeting.  Questions were asked and answered for for over two hours with lots of two way information being shared.

 

We were urged to check with the sheriffs website www.thurstonsheriff.org  to get updates on local police calls, crimes, who’s been arrested, as well as other pertinent information. (Note:  There could be up to a 24 hr. lag on information.)

 

Updates on recent burglaries and arrests were given as well as what we can do as citizens to help the Sheriffs Department to make our community a safer place to live. 

• Better lighting around businesses and homes was suggested. 
• Know your neighbors and help watch what goes on as you go through neighborhoods (we know them better than anyone else, who belongs and who does not.)  Pay attention as we know our streets better than anyone else.  Work with our neighbors to watch our homes.  We are the first line of defense against crime in our city.
• Call 911 if you feel something is not right.  Leave your blinds open so police can see in if needed.  Lock your vehicles.  Don’t leave your keys in the ignitions at night, even in your own driveway.  Put wooden rods in the bottom track of sliding glass doors and windows. 
• Most break ins happen at the back door.  To make breaking in more difficult, it was suggested that we replace the short screws in the strike plates with 3 inch stainless steel screws. Change out dead bolts to industrial in strength ones with a 1 inch throw.  These were just a few of the suggestions that were made.

Everyone seemed very pleased to have had this opportunity to meet one on one with our sheriffs department.  We hope to see everyone next month.