"Fall into the Season"
By Robert Spinks, Chief of Police - Parsons, Kansas Police Department

As we move into the crisp days and cool nights of fall, your Parsons Police Department is focused on keeping our community safe through smart prevention, awareness, and teamwork. Fall is a season of change-and also an opportunity to "fall into" good safety habits that make a real difference.

One of the simplest and most effective crime prevention habits is our 9 PM Routine. Every evening at 9:00 PM, take a few minutes to walk through these steps:

• Lock your car, home, garage, and shed.
• Remove valuables from your vehicle and porch areas.
• Turn on exterior lights to illuminate your property.
• Check that all doors and windows are secured.
• Lighting up our neighborhoods at night is one of the best ways to displace thieves and burglars. Criminals look for darkness and opportunity-bright, well-lit homes and streets send a clear message: not here, not tonight.

As Halloween approaches, keep these seasonal safety tips from national crime prevention organizations in mind:

• Trick-or-treat in groups and accompany young children.
• Use reflective tape or glow sticks to make costumes visible.
• Stay on well-lit streets and use sidewalks when possible.
• Inspect candy before allowing children to eat it.
• Drive cautiously through neighborhoods-expect excited children to dart into streets.

These small steps ensure that everyone enjoys a safe and fun Halloween night.

Remember our agency's community watch phrase: "See It! Hear It! Report It!"
Being a "nosy neighbor" is a good thing in Parsons! When you see or hear something suspicious-no matter how small-report it right away. Your call could stop a crime before it happens. That's true for suspicious vehicles, strange activity, or even when you sense someone may be in danger.

That same watchfulness applies to domestic violence. If you suspect that someone needs help, call the police. The Parsons Police Department is one of the few small agencies in Kansas with a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit, staffed to not only investigate crimes but to connect victims and survivors with vital resources and support. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and make our community safer for everyone.

Finally, an exciting update-this fall, the Parsons Police Department is working with the CW Network television series Police 24/7. We are hosting a film crew has been riding along with our officers, capturing the real-life guardianship, professionalism, and compassion that define our team. The crew has worked with nearly two dozen agencies nationwide and shared that Parsons stands out for its community spirit and the wide variety of calls our officers handle daily. Parsons was picked because of our forward thinking community policing, number of awards, results of community surveys and our commitment to being a helping agency first and enforcers second. We are often unique in our award winning policing efforts. The show airs nationwide every Thursday night on the CW Network-locally on KOAM/KFJX Channel 14.2 (The 4 States CW)-and reaches over 500,000 homes. Portions filmed here may appear in Season 3, airing in 2026.

This fall, let's continue working together-neighbors and officers, hand in hand-to keep Parsons safe, bright, and strong.

Stay alert, stay safe, and remember:
See It! Hear It! Report It!

- Chief Robert Spinks, MA, MS
Parsons Police Department

PS - Don't forget to download the FREE Parsons Police App from the App Store too.