Dear Friends and Neighbors:

This was going to be a quick update to tell everyone to have a great summer.  Last weekend we had a tornado touch down about a mile from Bunker Hill.  Therefore, I have decided to take this opportunity to go over a very serious subject.  What to do in the event of a tornado. So here are a few reminders from http://www.moneyinstructor.com/art/tornado.asp.

If you are outside and the weather is hot and windy with dark or puffy clouds surrounding the sky, start watching for the following signs:  sudden shift in temperature to cold, reduced or no wind, blackening sky (almost like night), clouds that turn a greenish color, lightning, heavy rain accompanied by hail, and heavy, loud thunder.  These signs will increase in the closer the tornado comes toward you.

• Turn on your TV or Radio, and Pay Attention:  When there is an impending tornado, your local TV and radio stations will have weather alerts on.  A “Tornado Watch” indicates that conditions are favorable for a tornado.  This would be a great time to start prepping the room you would need to use as shelter in the event a tornado actually does come.  A “Tornado Warning” means an actual tornado has been spotted and verified by the National Weather Service, and you should seek shelter immediately until the danger has passed.

• Where to Go in a Tornado:  The best place to be during a tornado is the basement of your home, away from windows and doors.  If you do not have a basement, the next best place is a room that is centrally located in your home with no windows (large closets will also work well).  Tornadoes will rip off the top of your home first—but will most likely rip around the outside of your home, too.  The basement or innermost room within your home are the two safest places to be when the tornado comes.
• Room Preparation for a Tornado:  Some items you will want to make sure you have with you in the event you are in a tornado or very severe thunderstorm and lose power include:  flashlight with new batteries, candle with matches, blankets, pillows, a few bottles of water, snack crackers, a cell phone, and a battery-powered radio.  Remember any prescription medicines you may need as well—and keep them tucked closely by you in the event the tornado does hit and damage your house.

• What to do with Your Pets:  Take them with you to the shelter room.  If you have dogs, remember a leash and keep them on it until the storm passes.  Also, if possible, try to remember treats or a little dog food so they are well taken care of should you need to stay elsewhere for a few days.
• If you happen to be in your car when a tornado warning is issued, or you happen to see a funnel cloud or tornado yourself, you need to pull over by the side of the road and lie flat in a ditch, under a concrete bridge, or as close to a river or creek as you possibly can.   Tornadoes will not cross water, so if you are close to a river or creek, that is the safest place to be.  Do not hang on to a tree or a building, as trees can be ripped from the ground by their roots or struck by lightning.  Again, lie flat on the lowest level ground possible, most preferably near or in a creek or river.

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

My apologies for taking so long to update this section however, we have been a little busy.   Since I last wrote quite a bit has happened in our town; we made national television, we've upgraded our ticketing system and we have two new deputies.

First of all I would like to talk about the episode Extreme Makeover Home Edition that was filmed here last fall.  What a fantastic experience for us all.  Yes the days were long an muddy but we made it work and came together as an incredible team.  I would like to thank all the volunteers and my fellow officers who put in long hours and hard work to create something greater for our community.

Next, as some of you may know, we have upgraded our ticketing system.  Both the Bunker Hill police department and the Peru police department have switched to an eTicket system. The electronic Citation and Warning System (eCWS) is much more efficient, our officers no longer have to hand write citations.  This makes the citation easy to complete, easy to read and gives us the ability to reprint if necessary. It also gives us the ability to create multiple citations at once saving the officers both time and paperwork.

Finally, you may have noticed that we have added two new Reserve Deputies to the Bunker Hill PD family.  I would like to welcome Jon Allen and John Rayl.  You can find out more about Deputies Allen and Rayl in the officers section of the website.


Sincerely,

Shawn Durham
Marshal

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Friends and Neighbors:


My name is Shawn Durham and I am the Town Marshal here in Bunker Hill.  I would like to take a moment to introduce you to our web page as well as give you some insight into our outstanding organization.


First of all I am glad that you found our website.  Here you will be able to get quick answers to many of your questions and be able to find out about events happening in and around the Bunker Hill area.  The web site will also offer you a closer look at the officers serving our community.


I am extremely proud of the officers that I have the honor of serving with at the BHPD. All of us strive to be the very best law enforcement team we can be. Our focus is to provide you and your families with a level of service that not only meets, but hopefully exceeds your expectations. Please do not hesitate to let us know when we have met this challenge or where we may have fallen short.


I hope you find our web site both informative and helpful. If at any time you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the department at any of the email addresses or phone numbers listed. Or you can write me personally at sldurham@bunkerhillpd.com.


Sincerely,


Shawn Durham
Marshal