Kelly’s Crime Corner begins publication
The Costa Mesa Police Department has launched a biweekly newsletter, Kelly’s Crime Corner, to provide safety tips and public programming information.
Crime Prevention Specialist Kelly Vucinic, for whom the newsletter is named, will generate stories and work with department staff to put the publication out. Topics range from ways to prevent being victimized to disaster-preparedness and seasonal-awareness issues.
“It’s certainly a work in progress. We’re fine-tuning it as we go,” she said Thursday. “It’s meant to give people another avenue for the information available on our website as well as to present that information in a more succinct way.”
Vucinic credits Police Chief Tom Gazsi for the publication’s creation, noting that it is one of several efforts he spearheaded this year to increase the flow of information from the Police Department to the community.
One of these major efforts was bringing the Crime Prevention office back into operation in February and having Vucinic lead the endeavor.
“Kelly has previously served in that capacity and did an outstanding job,” Gazsi said Thursday. “So it was my first choice to bring her on when we started Crime Prevention back up again.”
According to Gazsi, Vucinic is also developing several social media concepts that will launch in the following weeks, including a Facebook page with updates on emerging events such as traffic delays and road closures.
The first issue of Kelly’s Crime Corner, released in late June, focuses on two upcoming events — National Night Out and the Citizens Academy program — and provides safety tips for residents planning upcoming summer vacations.
The Police Department will host a citywide National Night Out crime- and drug-prevention event from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7 in the Target parking lot, 3030 Harbor Blvd.
The Citizens’ Academy program, which has been absent for several years, will begin offering free classes this September, giving residents the opportunity to experience Police Department operations, partake in ride-alongs with officers and learn about the force from expert department personnel.
“It’s a very good overview of police and community operations,” Gazsi said. “It’s lighthearted and educational, but leaves you with a profound understanding of what this entire department does for Costa Mesa.”
According to Vucinic, the second issue coming out in mid-July will discuss various summer activities and programming that didn’t make it into the first issue, including travel tips for locals who wish to avoid Orange County Fair traffic.
“The more the public knows, the better off they are,” she said. “You can’t stay safe if you don’t know how to stay safe.”
Kelly’s Crime Corner is available on the “Crime Prevention” section of https://www.costamesapd.org.
Printed copies will be made available in the front lobby of Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, and at the front desk of the Costa Mesa Police Department headquarters. Questions and comments can be sent to Vucinic via email at kbucinic@costamesa.gov.
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