Category: Public Safety

Chief Marc Haslam reports that the Swansea Police Department will conduct random alcohol compliance checks at local establishments licensed to sell alcohol over the next couple of months.

SWANSEA — As the holiday season approaches, Chief Marc Haslam and the Swansea Police Department would like to provide tips to prevent theft for residents expecting package deliveries within the coming weeks.  

According to the National Neighborhood Watch, nearly one in four adults in the United States has reported having a package stolen at least once. The Swansea Police Department wishes to share the following tips from the National Neighborhood Watch to help prevent package theft:

• Consider getting a P.O. box at your local post office or having packages delivered to your office
• Set up notifications to track your packages
• Install a security camera in the area(s) outside your home where packages may be delivered
• Require a signature upon delivery to ensure packages are never left unattended
• Reschedule delivery or ask for a package hold when on vacation
• Research potential home security technology and locking device options to protect and monitor packages
• Ask your neighbors to grab your packages for safekeeping until you return home
• Sign up for the United States Postal Service “Informed Delivery” service, where you can get a daily email with a picture/scan of the mail you will receive that day. To sign up, click here.

If you believe you have fallen victim to package theft, you should do the following:

• Confirm with your delivery company that your package was actually delivered
• Identify which package was stolen and what the contents of that package were
• Contact the police immediately and report your package as stolen
• If you have a security camera on your home, give a copy of the video to police
• Report the package theft to the applicable carrier:
  • United States Postal Service
  • UPS
  • FedEx
  • Amazon

Should you happen to witness package theft, do not approach the suspect. Instead, pay attention to what their vehicle looks like and its license plate number. If possible, get a physical description of the suspect to share with police.

Residents should note that around the holidays mail carriers such as Amazon and FedEx contract independent carriers to help deliver items during the peak season. These independent carriers typically drive their own vehicles that have no affiliation markers. Residents should be mindful of these individuals who are oftentimes mistaken as thieves when dropping off packages on behalf of carriers or delivery companies. 

The men and women of the Swansea Police Department wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

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SWANSEA — Chief Eric Hajder and the Swansea Fire Department wish to share safety tips with community members planning to cook, bake and enjoy holiday meals over the coming days and weeks. 

Chief Eric Hajder and the Swansea Fire Department would like to remind residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when setting their clocks back for daylight saving time this weekend.

New Three-Digit Phone Number 988 to Take Effect July 16

SWANSEA — Chief Marc Haslam and the Swansea Police Department wish to share information regarding the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 988, which will take effect on Saturday, July 16. 

The 988 dialing code will become the new national number routing callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline across the U.S. on July 16. The new phone line will be accessible 24/7/365 by call or text. 

The new number was designated by Congress in 2020. Similar to calling 911 for emergency response, the three-digit number is easy to remember for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or struggling with emotional distress, or for those worried about a friend or loved one. 

Beginning July 16, when individuals call or text 988 they will be connected with trained counselors from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Counselors will listen, understand how the caller’s problems are affecting them, provide support and connect them to resources if necessary. The Lifeline can also be reached through online chat suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.

Language translation services are also available to all callers, including the Spanish Language Line, which can be accessed by pressing 2 after dialing. 

Military service members, veterans and their families may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing 9-8-8, as well as by chatting online at veteranscrisisline.net or texting 838255.

LGBTQ youth may also use the Trevor Lifeline by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting 678-678 to access information and support for LGBTQ youth.

The current Lifeline hotline number, 1-800-273-8255, will remain in service even after the launch of 988. Dialing either number will route callers to the same services, no matter which number they use.

According to the Lifeline, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people, and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was the tenth-leading cause of death in the nation. The Lifeline has received over 20 million calls from people in distress looking for support from its inception in 2005 to 2020.

The Swansea Police Department encourages anyone who may be struggling or knows someone who is struggling to call the Lifeline for help and to get the necessary resources. If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.

To learn more about 988, click here. To learn more about how calls to the Lifeline are routed, click here.

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Chief Eric Hajder and the Swansea Fire Department wish to share guidance on hurricane awareness and preparedness this season. 

Swansea Police Chief Marc Haslam and Fire Chief Eric Hajder wish to share several important safety tips and reminders as residents prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.