David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

Shortly thereafter, a northbound tractor trailer crashed into the incapacitated bus when the driver was unable to see it stopped in the traffic lane. Absolutely no injuries were sustained in the crash. The tractor trailer was hauling several thousand gallons of oil in quart-sized containers which were subsequently scattered across the roadway. Some of these containers ruptured resulting in oil spillage.

TDOT is on scene and assisting with traffic congestion. As of the time of this release, the right northbound lane remains closed; however, the left lane is open for traffic. Motorists are encouraged to avoid this area for the next several hours and seek an alternate route to allow for the safe cleanup of the crash site. Motorists already in the immediate area are asked to pay attention, exercise caution and patience, and obey all traffic instructions.

This crash remains under investigation by the Kingsport Police Department; however, no charges are expected.

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

As previously released:

This coming Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, the Kingsport Police Department will be participating in a community drug take-back event. This event will take place in the parking lot in front of Dobyns-Bennett High School, located at 1 Tribe Way, in Kingsport. This event is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Kingsport, the Kingsport Police Department, and the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition.

Between now and Saturday, October 27th, all area residents are encouraged to go through their medicine cabinets and inventory their medications. Now is the time to safely dispose of any leftover, expired, or otherwise unwanted medications. This community drug take-back event is open to the public and is a prime opportunity and the preferred method to safely dispose of any medications that are no longer needed.

The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors two National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days each year, in April and October. National Prescription Drug Take Back Days aim to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

While the DEA does recognize these two annual days, at the Kingsport Police Department, we like to think of every day as Take-Back Day. K.P.D. has been participating in drug take-back initiatives since 2010 and installed a permanent drug collection box in the lobby of the Kingsport Justice Center, located at 200 Shelby Street in Downtown Kingsport, in 2012. Our box is accessible 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year. To date, K.P.D. has been able to safely incinerate nearly 12,000 pounds (6 tons) of leftover, unwanted, or expired medications.

The goals of this program are to keep drugs off the street, prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings, and avoid environmental contamination. Drugs that can be accepted include prescription, over the counter (OTC), vitamins, herbals, supplements, and veterinary medications. Items that are not accepted through this program include needles or sharps, biohazard materials, and illegal drugs.

For more information on the DEA’s National Take-Back Day initiative, please visit the following links:

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

https://takebackday.dea.gov/

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

When it comes to costumed children and candy collecting, the Kingsport Police Department is a strong advocate of the “Trunk or Treat” and “Fall Festival” concepts as significantly safer alternatives to traditional door-to-door Trick or Treating.

Rather than having kids wandering along dark neighborhood streets, knocking on the doors of complete strangers, Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival events are typically held in cordoned-off and well-lit parking lots or enclosed venues and are sponsored by reputable business, churches, or other community organizations.

Furthermore, most of these events also include food, games, activities, and/or costume contests. There will be several Trunk or Treats and Fall Festivals taking place throughout the Kingsport area in the coming days, giving kids multiple opportunities to sport their costumes and collect goodies.

Following are two particular events scheduled for this year that have been brought to our attention:

1) Church Circle Fall Festival, sponsored by surrounding churches, on Sunday, October 28th from 5:00-7:00 PM

2) Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Trunk or Treat, held at Blountville Middle School Track, on Wednesday, October 31st from 5:30-7:30 PM

With that being said, on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is certainly an option. For those choosing this historically popular activity, the Kingsport Police Department offers the following Halloween safety tips courtesy of the National Safety Council:

Halloween Safety On and Off the Road

Kids love the magic of Halloween: Trick-or-treating, classroom parties and trips to a neighborhood haunted house. But for moms and dads, often there is a fine line between Halloween fun and safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety.

In 2016, 7,330 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents, according to Injury Facts. Non-traffic incidents include those occurring on driveways, in parking lots or on private property.

NSC research reveals about 18% of these deaths occurred at road crossings or intersections. Lack of visibility because of low lighting at night also plays a factor in these deaths.

Here’s a scary statistic: Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. In 2017, October ranked No. 2 in motor vehicle deaths by month, with 3,700. July is No. 1, with 3,830 deaths.

Costume Safety

To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips. Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that won’t cause safety hazards.

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
• Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision
• If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, and give them glow sticks or a flashlight
• When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is non-toxic and always test it in a small area first
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation

Trick or Treating

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
• Agree on a specific time children should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home. Inspect the candy for any tampering and/or loose or torn wrappers. Discard any goodies that might pose as a choking or allergy hazard.
• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street

Safety Tips for Motorists

NSC offers these additional safety tips for parents – and anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours:

• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

Click this link https://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/ to vote now!

Remember that there are two ways to vote, and you can vote more than once:

1) Vote once every 12 hours online, at https://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/

AND

2) Vote once daily on Instagram (follow @AftermathK9Grant for instructions).

As previously released:

The Kingsport Police Department is asking for your vote in the Aftermath K-9 Grant Competition.

Click this link https://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/ to vote now!

Per their website: “Aftermath Services is the premier provider of trauma cleaning and biohazard remediation. For over 20 years, we have provided professional and compassionate services to more than 18,000 families, communities, and businesses after traumatic events. We believe that our customers deserve the highest quality service while being treated with dignity and respect.”

Regarding their grant, they state: “The Aftermath K9 Grant was founded to showcase, support, and reward the unique contributions made by law enforcement and their K9 units across the country. Indirectly, the K9 Grant raises safety awareness and community kinship throughout the neighborhoods that Aftermath and our law enforcement partners proudly serve.”

This year, the Aftermath K9 Grant will award a total of $16,500 in grants that can be used to further established K9 units or to create brand new ones. Communities nationwide will determine the top eight award recipients through popular vote.

• $5,000 – 1st place grant recipient
• $4,000 – 2nd place grant recipient
• $3,000 – 3rd place grant recipient
• $2,000 – 4th place grant recipient

• $1,000 – 5th place grant recipient
• $500 – 6th to 8th place grant recipients

The voting period begins on October 18th and concludes on November 2nd. Anyone in the community – whether you are a citizen, a student, a local business representative, or a fellow officer – can vote to support the K.P.D. K9 Unit!

Please don’t just vote once and forget about us. After you vote the first time, keep going back and voting again and again. There are two ways to vote:

3) Vote once every 12 hours online, at https://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/

AND

4) Vote once daily on Instagram (follow @AftermathK9Grant for instructions).

Votes will be tallied after the voting period ends, and the winning K9 units will be announced on November 5, 2018. So be sure to spread the word, and come back twice daily from October 18th until November 2nd to ensure that our department wins a grant!

As always, the Kingsport Police Department appreciates your support!

For more information on Aftermath, please visit: https://www.aftermath.com/

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton