How to detect and report suspicious activity

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – The safety of the KOTA Territory is our collective responsibility and it is important to know how to respond when suspicious activity is observed.

Whether you notice a potentially dangerous situation or encounter something that just feels “unusual,” taking the right steps can make a big difference.

“At RCPD we always preach, ‘If you see something, say something.’ So if you see something that seems out of place or looks a little suspicious, give us a call and we’ll be happy to take a look at it. Look at this, if we determine there is something criminal about it, we can work to fix it,” said Rapid City Police Department Public Information Officer Brendyn Medina.

Odin’s Gate Guards owner Rockwell Peterson recommends considering the context of the situation when assessing whether an activity is suspicious.

“You will see people dressing inappropriately for both the culture in the area and the event, occasion or weather. A good example is walking through the city center in the middle of summer, it’s hot, someone is wearing a large winter jacket and is constantly fiddling with a particular pocket or waistband. That’s usually a good sign that he’s carrying a weapon,” Peterson said.

Both Medina and Peterson agree that it’s important to trust your gut in any situation.

“It’s better to report it and make sure it doesn’t happen than not to report it,” Medina added.

“Don’t immediately write off a situation and let it convince you that nothing will happen. Just because you’re not used to seeing things happen doesn’t mean they don’t happen, and even more so “You make a conscious effort to be aware of the things that happen. The more you see them and the quicker you can react,” Peterson said.

If you see a situation that may be suspicious, you can call the Rapid City Police Department non-emergency line at 605-394-4133 or, in an emergency, call 911.

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