WHEN TO CALL POLICE By Fay Wood, NW Chief • Access card or gate concerns • Questions regarding community policies or events Living in a vibrant 55+ community means looking out for one another and helping maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all residents and guests. Knowing who to contact in different situations helps ensure concerns are managed quickly, appropriately, and safely. Call 911 Immediately for Emergencies Always call 911 first if there is an immediate threat to life, health, or safety. Examples include: • Medical emergencies • Fires or smoke • Crimes in progress • Physical altercations or threats of violence • Suspicious people attempting to enter homes or vehicles. • Severe accidents or injuries • Any situation where someone is in immediate danger. After contacting emergency services, you may notify onsite staff when it is safe to do so they can be aware. Call the Non-Emergency Police Number For: Situations that may require law enforcement involvement but are not urgent emergencies, such as: • Suspicious activity • Theft or vandalism discovered after the fact. • Noise disturbances late at night • Ongoing harassment or threats • Traffic violations create safety concerns to include parking. • Concerns involving trespassing. If you are unsure whether a situation requires police assistance, it is always advised to contact the nonemergency line for guidance. Staff For Community-Related Issues Staff are here to assist with operational, maintenance, and rule-related concerns within the community. Please contact staff for issues such as: • Amenity concerns or rule violations • Irrigation or landscaping problems • Streetlight outages • Facility maintenance requests 22 While staff work hard to support residents, they are not law enforcement officers or first responders, and should not be expected to intervene in dangerous or criminal situations. This includes our Citizens Assisted Patrol. Additionally, residents are asked not to gather or go to the scene as they may put themselves, or first responders at risk. If You’re Unsure, Prioritize Safety A good rule of thumb is simple: If it feels unsafe or urgent, call the police first. If it is a community operations issue, contact staff. Our goal is to maintain a safe, respectful, and enjoyable community for everyone. On behalf of your Neighborhood Watch Team we thank you for helping keep our neighborhood safe and secure. CONTACT NUMBERS FOR STAFF, SECURITY, AND NON-EMERGENCY LINES CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 3. HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1 Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs until November 30. To assist residents in getting prepared for hurricane season, staff has compiled some guidelines and other important information that will be helpful as you prepare for the 2026 Hurricane Season. It can be found at https:// www.lakeashtoncdd.com and in the Media Center on the information wall. DON’T FORGET: • Hurricane and storm shutters must be approved by the Lake Ashton Architectural Review Committee (ARC) • Visit https://www.floridadisaster.org, the official site for Florida emergency preparation • Go to https://www.alertpolk.com to register your contact information for the Alert Polk telephone and email notification system. Polk County officials use this system to inform county residents of situations that may affect their health, safety, and welfare, including severe weather alerts.
23 Publizr Home