Blanchester Police Department
Blanchester Police Department
Reporting an emergency…………..9-1-1
Reporting a non-emergency………(937)783-2431
Calling the police station………….(937)783-4702
Providing a tip on drugs in the community…..(937)783-4702, extension 19. You are welcome to leave information anonymously if you wish.
Zero tolerance teen driving program:
Q: What is the zero tolerance teen driver program?
A: Under this program, you would be issued a sticker to place on the rear bumper of your teenager’s car, indicating that you want your child to be given a citation, not a warning, for traffic violations that endanger his safety or the safety of others.
By displaying the sticker, you are placing your teen driver on notice that they cannot be lax in their driving habits. You are indicating to Blanchester Police that you prefer that your child learn by receiving a citation. You know your child best: some take a warning very seriously; others require a more formal consequence. Parents are cautioned that a citation cannot be dismissed simply because you choose not to participate in the program after your teen receives a ticket.
Q: Will the police officer still have discretion whether to issue a citation or not?
A: Yes, as long as the violation does not endanger the safety of your child or others.
Q: Will my teenager automatically be cited for even minor violations?
A: No. Any violation that does not endanger the safety of your child or others will not result in a citation being issued, as long as the violation does not involve a crash.
Q: Will other law enforcement agencies also have zero tolerance for my teens driving violations?
A: No. At this point, the program is unique to Blanchester, but the sticker could make for an interesting conversation between your child and an out of town officer!
Q: Can I decide not to participate in the program at a later date?
A: Absolutely. Simply remove the "zero tolerance" sticker from the rear of your teen’s car. Parents are cautioned that a citation cannot be dismissed simply because you choose not to participate in the program after your teen receives a ticket.
Q: This seems a bit harsh to me. Is there something else I can do to hold my teen responsible for safe driving?
A: Yes. The Blanchester Police Department also provide "How’s my driving?" bumper stickers to concerned parents. There is a space on the sticker to write in a phone number where a parent can be contacted about a teen’s poor driving. This allows you to have complete control over the consequences for the driving behavior. This means that your child is not a "zero tolerance teen driver", but it also does not prevent your child from receiving a citation if an officer feels that is appropriate.
Obtaining a copy of a police report:
Call the Mayor’s office between 8am and 4:30pm weekdays at (937)783-4702. You will need to provide the date of the offense and type of incident, as well as the address you would like the report mailed to. If you need the report for an insurance claim, you should be aware that many insurance companies automatically request a copy of the report directly from us after you file your claim, and some insurance companies will only accept a report received directly from us to verify your claim. As with any request for public records, Ohio law requires that we produce the records within a reasonable period of time. Since our clerical resources are limited, we ask that you exercise patience when making such a request.
Obtaining an arrest records check:
Stop by or call the Mayor’s office between 8am and 4:30pm weekdays at (937)783-4702. You will need to provide the name and date of birth or social security number of the person you are asking to be checked, as well as the address you would like the response mailed to. As with any request for public records, Ohio law requires that we produce the records within a reasonable period of time. Since our clerical resources are limited, we ask that you exercise patience when making such a request.
Can the police keep an eye on my house while I am away?
Certainly. Simply stop by the Mayor’s office between 8am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday and complete a house check request form. If you must leave the house in an emergency and can’t get to the office to complete the request, simply call the non-emergency phone number listed above and ask for an officer to stop by your house to complete the form.
A note about staffing: In order to give taxpayers the most return for their tax dollar, the police station is not staffed. Our officers spend the vast majority of their time patrolling the community and following up on reported crime. If you need to see an officer, the quickest way to do so is to phone the non-emergency number above and ask to see one. Don’t think of this as inconveniencing anyone: it is never an inconvenience to ask us to do our job!
A message from the Chief of Police:
The vast majority of police department websites include a photograph of the department’s police cars and a description of the fancy equipment the department owns. You won’t find that on our website, because I take pride in our people and our approach, not in a piece of expensive equipment. The Blanchester Police Department endeavors to employ officers who see themselves as "peace officers" whose primary goal is to maintain the tranquility of the community. Sometimes that will involve making arrests. However, the mature police officer, as well as the mature police department, recognizes that problems can often be solved using other solutions.
You might also be surprised to see that our website doesn’t feature a "mission statement" for the department. That’s because I believe effective policing is demonstrated in action, not in fancy words and vague promises. The goals I have established for the police department are simple: it is our first priority to prevent crime from happening. If we should fail in that undertaking, it is our next priority to identify and locate the perpetrator and bring them to justice.
I believe strongly that a peaceful and pleasant community is achieved by a proactive police department that has the common sense to recognize which problems it can solve, then making a genuine effort to solve those problems. It is our goal to provide a meaningful response to reported crime, taking the time to fully investigate and establish the facts of the case, then making arrests that will result in conviction in our courts. I asked our officers to treat every citizen as a neighbor. I hope that we meet that expectation. If we don’t, let me know.
With Kind Regards,
Scott Reinbolt, J.D.
Chief of Police