What is your New Year’s resolution for 2019? Some people focus on losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle while others may want to go back to school or simply get their homes more organized. Whatever you desire to do this year, we encourage Pinellas County citizens to add staying safe to their list of resolutions.

At the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, our priority is keeping everyone safe. As much as law enforcement officers work hard to protect the county, it is also every person’s responsibility to take precautionary measures to ensure his or her own safety.

So that’s why we invite you to adopt these safety resolutions for a safe 2019:

1. Stay aware of relevant, up-to-date information by using the Nextdoor app. Last year, the sheriff’s office joined Nextdoor—a mobile platform that helps you get to know your neighbors, community, and local law enforcement. After signing up, you are assigned to your neighborhood and can see local alerts about recent crime, as well as community concerns—like if someone’s dog is lost or there is a strange person knocking on doors late at night. Joining this online community will not only help you form relationships with neighbors so you can rely on each other in case of emergencies, but also quickly respond to local threats. Nextdoor is free, so there’s no cost to being actively involved in your community.

2. Establish the 9 p.m. routine. For the past few years, law enforcement agencies around the country have joined the social media movement #9PMRoutine to encourage people to lock their homes and car doors before bed every night. Simply by making sure every door on your property is locked up by 9 p.m., burglaries can easily be prevented. Not only are you protecting your valuables, but you are also playing an important role in your community to prevent crime.    

3. Sign up for the Pinellas County Crime Viewer to learn about crimes and emergencies in your area. If you have ever wondered what crimes are happening in your neighborhood, you can use the Crime Viewer website to see all kinds of activity on a map, including burglaries, traffic accidents, and domestic violence reports. All you need to do is go to the website at www.pinellascounty.org/crimeviewer, then type in your address and email and you will receive police reports directly to your inbox listing any crime going on around you. By staying informed, you can help protect yourself and family and friends from relevant threats near your home.

This year, make a New Year’s resolution that will protect you, your belongings, and your community. On behalf of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Happy New Year!