Ames Police Department

Community Resource Officer

Harry Samms
Community Resource Officer
Ames Police Department
515 Clark
Ames, IA 50010
515-239-5432
Fax 515-239-5429
E-mail hsamms@city.ames.ia.us

EDUCATION	SAFETY	COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Public Access Channel Scams General Knowledge	Project Child Safe Child Restraint Checks Kid Care Project	Citizens Police Academy Neighborhood Association Boys & Girls Club

EDUCATION

Public Access Television Segments -- Periodically, the City's public access television station airs informative segments on the various aspects of police work. Past topics have been Accident Investigation, Radar Traffic Enforcement and Vehicle Traffic Stops. If you have any suggestions for future segments, let us know!
Scams -- In an effort to protect the public from fraud, the Ames Police are available to put on education seminars. Our Financial Crime Investigators re available if you have doubts about telemarketers or solicitors.
General Knowledge -- All transient merchants (door-to-door) MUST have a permit from the City of Ames with their name and company as well as personal identification to operate in Ames. Second, ask for all "Deals" in writing and NEVER give information over the phone. Finally, most deals that seem too good to be true ARE too good to be true!

SAFETY

Project Child Safe -- A citywide operation that is designed to help "missing" or "endangered" children within the Ames area. Each city vehicle is represented with a Project Child Safe sticker on the front passenger side fender. City workers are trained in what to look for and how to get a hold of the Police Department quickly so we can respond appropriately.
Child Restraint Checks -- The Ames Police and MGMC have trained several employees in how to properly install child safety seats. We can, in turn, educate the public on how to properly install car seats by holding safety seat checks throughout the summer.
Kid Care Project -- This project is designed to keep an updated record of your child. You will be given a packet to keep that will contain your child's fingerprints, photograph and other important information should that child come up missing. This information should be kept accessible so that the packet can be quickly given to patrol officers to speed up the process and locate the missing child.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Citizen's Police Academy -- This is a proactive approach to get the Ames Community up-to-date on how the Ames Police Department operates. This is an eight-week academy that will not only educate the public on policies and procedures, but also will allow the academy class to meet and interact with Administration, Detectives and Patrol personnel.
Neighborhoods -- There is a lot of activity that goes on in our community neighborhoods. The police can combat speeders by setting up traffic projects to enforce the speed limit. The police are also available to help out with neighborhood complaints such as noise and parking problems. Finally, the police can visit block parties to hand out stickers and coloring books to children and to talk about safety issues with residents.
Boys and Girls Club -- The Ames Police Department is an activity participant in the Boys and Girls Club. This allows us to interact with the community's youth in a positive setting. Our past projects with the Club include the annual I-Cubs game, the annual Officer's Challenge. We also conduct safety seminars and hold a bike rodeo challenging children how to bike safely throughout the summer months.

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