Did That Police Officer Just Give Me a Chicken Sandwich?

Safety Officer Bernie Schipelliti tells us all about it:

The quick answer is yes, but let me explain. The members of the Traffic Division attempt to be visible around town as much as possible. One of our key locations is at the high school. As time permits, we station ourselves near the exit of the student parking lot to remind students to be properly buckled. Sometimes we even have a token for them - a reward for buckling up. In the Traffic Safety world this is known as "positive enforcement."

When we were there in October, we handed out ice scrapers, mouse pads and BPD pens. In passing, one student jokingly asked, "What, no food?" Well, you guessed it. This past Monday as students were exiting the parking lot they were given a hot chicken sandwich...if they were buckled up! One by one as cars exited, members of the Traffic Division conversed with the students about seatbelt safety while the school administration officials looked on and provided support. The students laughed, joked and couldn't believe that we were handing out sandwiches and not tickets.

Nearby, the police department's variable message board displayed the message:

Don't Be Chicken, Buckle Up.

A program like this would not be possible for the police department to do alone and we would like to thank Chick-fil-A of the Burlington Mall for generously donating 250 hot chicken sandwiches and the administration of Burlington High School. We value their partnerships and know that programs like this work by reminding teens that they need to be buckled up every trip, no matter how short the ride.

Detective Leary Offers Holiday Safety Tips

With the holiday and shopping season rapidly approaching, the Burlington Police Department would like to remind residents to practice their own version of "preventative police work" while shopping. Although the proximity to the Route 128/93 belt is an excellent advantage for residents and businesses, it also attracts people who might capitalize on the array of potential targets.

Opportunities for criminals increase with the spike in holiday shoppers at the area malls and specialty stores. Residents are encouraged to remove all valuables (i.e., GPS devices, laptops, cell phones, etc.) from their cars, when shopping or even when parked at home. If items cannot be removed, they should be placed out-of-sight, in the glove compartment or center console. If you are shopping during the lunch hour, place newly purchased items in the trunk or, if feasible, bring them with you into the office. This simple step will go a long way in thwarting thieves who are looking for a quick and easy target.

Another potential crime that will undoubtedly increase over the next few weeks/months is the classic “flim flam” scheme. In this type of scam, con-artists call area businesses pretending to have a connection with a local electronics store. The caller claims to have televisions at drastically reduced prices due to overstock. The victim is asked to meet the caller in the parking lot where cash is exchanged for a (bogus) receipt, along with instructions to then report to customer pick-up for the merchandise. Before the victim realizes the situation is a scam, the suspect has long since fled. This scam has been given a 21st century spin through the use of the popular website craigslist.com and other similar web sites. It is important to remember that reputable stores do not conduct cash-only business in parking lots.

In conjunction with the police department’s extra patrols and enforcement operations, residents can do small things that have a big impact. Following the simple steps outlined above, and remembering the old adage, “If something seems too good to be true, it usually is!” residents are exposed to far less risk, thus helping to ensure a happy - and crime-free - holiday season.

AAA Southern New England Honors BPD

On November 18, AAA Southern New England awarded the Burlington Police Department its National Gold Award. The inscription on the award reads:

In recognition of your outstanding achievements in traffic safety and your continuing efforts to educate and protect the citizens of your community. AAA salutes your commitment to traffic safety.

The award focuses largely on traffic safety programs rather than enforcement. Led by Sergeant Tom Browne, Officer Bernie Schipelliti and Officer Kevin Cooney comprise the Traffic Division, which is largely responsible for the innovative and effective programs that earned us this award.

Burlington was the only recipient of the National Gold Award in this region. It is the third straight year that we have been so honored.

Pictured above: (l-r) Diana Diaz, Officer Kevin Cooney, Chief Fran Hart, AAA's "Car Doctor" John Paul

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