Protect yourself and each other

SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley resident Steve Card led a meeting Oct. 6 at the Swan Valley Community Hall to discuss residents joining together to look after the safety of their neighbors. He listed steps that residents can take to safeguard the community against threats to property and lives. Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ryan Dunster spoke to those present about how residents can help themselves when threatened with harm.

Card presented information from the Neighborhood Watch web page. He then shared some of the recent crimes in the Swan Valley. There have been break-ins, thefts of automobiles and vandalism including loosening lug nuts, slashing tires on cars and trashing homes. Armed robberies have also taken place.

Card, a Lake County resident said, “We are on our own to protect ourselves and each other.” He elaborated that residents don’t often call law enforcement because Lake County law enforcement won’t come unless the incident is life threatening or Missoula County law enforcement takes too long to arrive.

Card presented some suggestions that could be used for added protection.

• Connect with neighbors - have a list of names and numbers

• Harden property with alarms, signs, solar motion lights and security cameras

• Develop a home plan in case of a break-in

• Call 911 or enhanced 911- 406-754-0911

Enhanced 911 displays the mobile phone’s location and number to the dispatcher. Missoula County residents can sign up at https://www.smart911.com to receive emergency alerts from wildland fire and law enforcement via text, email or phone call.

Additional suggestions from those in attendance included putting up signs either on each road in the Valley or on each end that notifies the public about the neighborhood watch. Another said that having a dog that can sound an alarm is helpful.

In response to Card’s comment regarding the lack of law enforcement, Dunster, who lives in Seeley Lake, said that he can get to Condon in 20 or 30 minutes. He said he wants Swan Valley residents to call more often about suspicious activity. It raises the chances of law enforcement catching the perpetrators.

“There are three cops nearby [in Seeley Lake, Potomac and Holland Lake] and more could be hired if residents would call more often for help,” Dunster said. “We will respond to Lake County residents’ calls, we don’t need the county’s permission because we are closer.”

Dunster had a few other suggestions:

• Mark property with family name and address so that law enforcement can find it quickly if there is an incident.

• Become educated about the law and one’s personal protection rights when use of force is justified. The Montana Code Annotated, Title 45 Crimes, Chapter 3 Justifiable Use of Force can be found at: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0450/chapters_index.html

Dunster was not convinced that the neighborhood watch would work as well as in urban centers. In the Swan Valley residents are so spread apart and cell phone service is often very spotty which makes contact with each other more difficult.

However,those in attendance were willing to sign up to participate in a neighborhood watch. Card said that more meetings will be held to determine road captains, persons in charge of the road near their residence, and participants. There will be an opportunity for more discussion and for people to join.

For more information, watch the Swan Valley Facebook page.