School Safety Alert

 DONALD FERNALD, Chief of Police

School Safety Alert

Today, Monday, February 9, 2009, approximately 7:15 a.m., a district student noticed she was being followed by a vehicle. The incident occurred on La Puente Rd and San Rogue Dr., near Butterfield Park, in Walnut. While walking to school, the student noticed a silver Toyota or Honda drive by her make a u-turn, drive up behind her and start following her. The student said she walked into the apartment complex at La Puente Rd and Sentous Ave as though she lived there. She said the vehicle turned onto Sentous Ave., slowed down and watched her walk up to an apartment and then the vehicle drove away north bound on Sentous Ave.    

The student was unable to describe the driver because the vehicle had tinted windows. The vehicle was described as a silver Toyota or Honda with a black spoiler and black writing on or near the spoiler.

The Rowland School Police Department will provide extra patrol to the schools in area where the incident occurred. Because of the recent incidents related to these types of calls in La Puente, Hacienda Heights and West Covina parents are asked to speak to their children about the need to be safe in their surroundings while coming and going to school and while coming and going to their homes.

Ø      Always walk in groups.  If you cannot walk in a group, at least try and walk with

      another person.

Ø      Do not walk alone in isolated areas.

Ø      Always be aware of your surroundings.

Ø      Never talk to strangers.

Ø      Never accept a ride from a stranger or someone you do not know.

Ø      If you are approached by a stranger in a car, walk away as quickly as possible and go 

      to an area where there are other people.

Ø      If you are approached or feel threatened by a stranger, please report it as soon as   

      possible to your Principal, a School Police Officer, West Covina Police Officer or a Sheriff’s Deputy.

If you see any suspicious activity or are confronted by a stranger, immediately contact the Walnut Sheriff’s Station at (626) 913-1715, Rowland School Police Department at (626) 854-8442 or (626) 261-8139 or the West Covina Police Department (626) 939-8557.