News

In recent months, there has been an increase nationally in reports of the “Door-Kicking Challenge,” a dangerous social media video trend in which teenagers record themselves aggressively kicking a homeowner’s door late at night and running away. This is intended to mimic a home invasion to capture the resident’s reaction and post it online. Though it may seem like a prank, participants risk facing criminal charges and unintended confrontations with homeowners.

We urge community members to refrain from this trend. The potential physical and emotional damage to all parties involved is not worth social media views. We encourage parents to discuss the consequences of this challenge with their children and ask that homeowners stay alert and report any experiences of this trend. Together, we can help keep our community safe.

Today marks 20 years since the line-of-duty death of Swansea Police Lt. Robert “Officer Bob” Cabral.

With Halloween approaching, it is important to consider the potential hazards the holiday brings for participants of all ages.

Children should be dressed appropriately for the weather and wear reflective attire or carry flashlights to ensure they can be seen in the dark. Young trick-or-treaters should always be accompanied by an adult. Older children should be reminded of how to trick-or-treat safely, and should use the “buddy system” to make sure no one walks alone.

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Today, on National First Responders Day, we pause to honor the bravery and sacrifice of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers.

These dedicated professionals put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and respond in times of crisis. We are grateful for their service and commitment.

We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and grateful for the trust and collaboration that allows us to serve our community together.

As the new school year begins, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep students safe — on the roads and beyond.

Drivers should be alert on the roads and pay careful attention to school-related traffic laws such as speed limits in school zones, yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks, and stopping for school buses when their lights are flashing and stop arms are extended.

Parents and guardians can also offer their students safety tips. Children waiting for the bus should stay 10 feet away from the curb. When the bus arrives, they should wait until it has completely stopped and they have seen the bus driver’s signal to enter.

Children biking to school should always wear a properly fitting helmet, use bike lanes when possible, and abide by traffic laws and signals. Children walking to school should only cross the street at crosswalks and should never play or push each other near traffic.

For more back-to-school safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, visit: https://tinyurl.com/NHTSASchoolSafety

Chief Mark Foley reports that the Swansea Police Department has charged three people following an investigation into a series of car thefts and motor vehicle break-ins last month.

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