The Ashland Police Department is hosting an educational event for the community called ”Personal Safety in the 21st Century.”

Personal Safety in the 21st Century will be held on January 31st at the Ashland Church of God from 6:30pm – 7:30pm.

This event will feature 1st Sgt Robert Holland with the Virginia State Police High Technology Crimes Division. 1st Sgt Holland will speak about the following topics:

• Social Networking Safety
• Inappropiate Texting
• Cyber Bullying

Here are some staggering statistics from Enough.org, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is “Making the Internet Safer for Children and Families.”:

• Social Netowking Safety
• 15% of all Americans have never checked their social networking privacy and security settings.
• More than 25% of Facebook users last year were under the age of 10
• Cavalier International
• Cases of Internet sex crimes against children involving social networking sites were more likely to result in a face-to-face meeting. This was true of 81% of Internet-initiated crimes involving a social networking site.
• Inappropiate Texting
• 24% of teens ages 14-17 have been involved in inappropriate texting either by cell phone or on the Internet
• 44% of teens say it is common for explicit suggestive text messages to get shared with people other than the intended recipient.
• 53% of teens who send explicit text messages are girls and 47% are boys
• Cyber Bullying
• 66% of teens who have witnessed online cruelty have also witnessed others joining in; 21% say they have also joined in the harassment.
• Only 7% of U.S. parents are worried about cyber bullying, even though 33% of teenagers have been victims of cyber bullying
• More girls are cyberbullys than boys (59% girls and 41% boys).

With all three topics making the news across the United States the Ashland Police Department wants to educate the community in an effort to prevent others from becoming victims.

If you have questions about this event please contact Community Support Officer Perkins at (804) 412-0601.

For a printable flyer of "Personal Safety in the 21st Century", please click here.

I would like to take a moment to thank those in our community who made small miracles possible. Last week, the Ashland Police Department held its annual “Shop with a Cop” party at the Ashland Church of God. During this event, Santa’s helpers were able to provide gifts to nearly a dozen children from our community who otherwise would not have seen presents on Christmas morning.

Through the generosity of businesses and individuals in our fair town, the members of the police department were not only able to shop for a child, but able to witness one of life’s most wonderful events: the true appreciation and wonderment of a child. I know for this member of the Ashland Police Department, my Christmas started with this blessed event.

Although I wish we could have helped more, I am continually amazed by the generous folks in our community, especially in such hard times. On behalf of the Ashland Police Department, I would like to extend our most joyous thanks to the following businesses, individuals and organizations for their assistance this year:

• A.C.E.S.
• Ashland Church of God
• Caroline Coronado
• Cavalier International
• Cox Transportation
• Domino’s Pizza
• Freedom RV
• Hanover Honda Sports (and customers*)
• Hanover Tools
• Haskin’s Body Shop
• Helen Robertson
• J. Early Wood Golf Cart Creations
• Luck Motors
• Market Ashland Partnership
• Minors Fences
• Nancy Offerson
• Peebles Department Store
• Pepicelli’s Pizza
• Pete West
• R-MC Baseball team members
• Sheehy Ford
• Sheetz
• Stanley Construction
• Susan and John Newell
• Tara Bath
• Walmart

Thank you again and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Safe New Years!

I remain in your service,

Douglas A. Goodman, Jr.
Chief of Police