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Home > About Us > FAQs > Crimes Against Persons, Property, or Society Crimes Against Persons, Property, or Society
Domestic ViolenceEvery year, more than three million people are victims of domestic violence, and one million children are physically abused. In the State of Nebraska, it is against the law for any person to threaten, assault, sexually abuse or otherwise harm another person, even if they are married. These crimes are not exclusively committed against women, but women are the majority of the victims affected by these crimes. Domestic violence by law is defined as abuse cases involving spouses, former spouses, adult co-habitants, former co-habitants, persons who have children in common, or those in a dating relationship or past intimate relationship. The Bellevue Police Department regards domestic violence as a serious violent crime. Our primary objectives in responding to domestic violence calls are to protect and assist the victim, de-escalate the violent situation, investigate the crime, enforce the law against the perpetrator (either male or female) when probable cause exists, collect and preserve evidence for prosecution, and to assist in the successful prosecution so as to provide consequences for the perpetrators of these acts. The first step in ending the cycle of domestic violence is by calling the police, telling a friend, or contacting a shelter. There have been numerous studies which indicate that if violence is not stopped, it only worsens over time. The time for you to act is now. Hotlines, shelters and counseling is available. Most of these services are just a phone call away. Myths and Facts About Domestic Violence MYTH #1
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What is a protection order? What are the penalties for violating a protection order? How can I obtain a protection order against someone? State statues provide that any victim of domestic abuse may file a petition and affidavit for a protection order. Upon the filing of such a petition and affidavit in support thereof, the judge or court may issue a protection order, without bond, which prevents the abuser:
Also, state statutes provide that any victim who has been harassed as defined by section 28-311.02 may file a petition and affidavit for a harassment protection order. Upon the filing of such a petition and affidavit in support thereof, the judge or court may issue a harassment protection order, without bond, prohibiting the party harassing the victim from:
Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of a protection order after being served with a copy of such order shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor, except that (a) any person convicted of violating such order who has a prior conviction for violating a protection order shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor and (b) any person convicted of violating such order who has a prior conviction for violating the same protection order shall be guilty of a Class IV felony. To obtain a protection order, you must go to the Sarpy County Courthouse located at 1210 Golden Gate Drive in Papillion (84th and Highway 370) and fill out several forms detailing the need for a protection order. For more help, contact the Sarpy County Victim/Witness Unitat 593-2201. Your safety is the most important thing. Contacting the police is one way you can protect yourself from further abuse. However, the following preplanning tips should also be considered:
WARNING: Abusers try to control their victim's lives. When abusers feel a loss of control - like when victims try to leave them - the abuse often gets worse. Take special care when you leave. Keep being careful even after you have left. Also, if relocation affects a minor child, seek the advice of a private attorney regarding child abduction laws prior to relocating. This section on personalized safety planning adapted from the Metro Nashville Police Department's personalized safety plan. Victim Assistance If you are a victim of a crime, you are not alone. Below is a list of agencies which have been set up with the sole purpose of helping victims of crimes and domestic violence. Please contact them if you or someone you know is a victim of a crime and is in need of assistance. Also included in this list are shelters which can accommodate you should an emergency occur and you have nowhere else to go. Please call ahead to make sure they have space. Sarpy County Victim / Witness Unit National Domestic Violence Hotline Y.W.C.A.Women Against Violence Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) National Center For Missing And Exploited Children National Victim Center Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) National Child Abuse Hotline Safe Haven Stephen's Center Open Door Mission Sienna House FirearmsCan I discharge a firearm within the Bellevue City limits? NO. Per Section 20-8 of the Bellevue City Code, no person, except an officer of the law in the discharge of his duty, shall fire or discharge any gun, pistol, or fowling piece or other firearm within the city. Also, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any toy pistol, toy gun, toy cannon, air gun or any other arm, or arms, blank cartridge, or slingshot, loaded with rock or leaden or other dangerous missiles, at any time or under any circumstances within the city. This includes both b.b. and pellet guns. The City Council, as it deems appropriate, can approve the discharge of a firearm within the city limits for the purpose of a managed hunt. Do I need to register my gun with the Police Department? Firearms do not have to be registered with the Bellevue Police Department, but registration is encouraged. Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun? YES. As required by State Statute 69-2403, any person (who is 21 years of age or older and is not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun by 18 U.S.C. 922), who intends to purchase, lease, rent, or receive transfer of a handgun shall apply with the chief of police or sheriff of the applicant's place of residence for a certificate. Anyone interested in obtaining a permit from the Bellevue Police Department should come to the front desk of the main police station located at 2207 Washington Street. In addition to the required $5.00 handgun certificate fee, applicants must also present a current Nebraska motor vehicle operator's license, state identification card, or military identification card. FireworksCan I shoot off fireworks in the City Of Bellevue? No person shall possess, sell, offer for sale, bring into the city or discharge any fireworks other than permissible fireworks. Fireworks which are permissible under Bellevue City Ordinance are:
The use of fireworks by private citizens on private land is not restricted, with the exception of violations of the City's noise ordinance. NuisancesWhat can I do about loud noises which disturb my peace? If your peace and quiet is being disturbed by a loud noise, call the Bellevue Police at 293-3100. Officers will be dispatched to your location to assist you. Should an officer locate the source of the offensive noise, he or she will contact you in regards to pressing charges for noise ordinance violations, unless you wish to remain anonymous How can I report narcotics activity in my neighborhood? The Bellevue Police have adopted a "zero-tolerance" policy in the enforcement of drug laws. Officers of the Bellevue Police Department aggressively target those individuals who not only consume but deal illegal narcotics on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and in our schools However, many of our successes come from information we gain from the public. If you have information about narcotics activity which may be occurring in your neighborhood, you can either call the Bellevue Police at 293-3100 to speak with an officer, or you fill out our on-line Narcotics Information Form. If you would like to learn more about narcotics, you can pick up free pamphlets from the Police Department, or you can click here to get more information online Should you find that your home or business has been damaged by graffiti, or you notice graffiti as you are passing through our community, please contact the Bellevue Police at 293-3100 and report it. It is important to remember not to disturb any graffiti until the police have an opportunity to examine it. Graffiti can provide valuable information to officers about criminal activity in your neighborhood and may be valuable (although you may not think so at the time). Check the area around the graffiti to see if you can locate any spray paint cans. Do not touch the cans as they may be evidence. Let the responding officer know if you find anything which is suspicious in the area of the graffiti Once the police arrive and take a report, immediate steps must be taken to remove the graffiti. Under Bellevue City Ordinance, the Public Works Director, or his designated representative, will issue a notice to the affected property owner giving them ten (10) days to remove the graffiti, or the graffiti will be removed by the City Of Bellevue at the owner's expense How can I report gang activity in my neighborhood? The Bellevue Police Department takes an aggressive approach to gang-related activity. In keeping with this aggressive attitude, the Bellevue Police Department has focused on several strategies in an effort to combat gang activity
If you believe that gang activity is occurring in your neighborhood, report it to the Bellevue Police at 293-3100. Annoying or Threatening Phone CallsWhat can I do if I receive annoying or threatening phone calls? If you receive an annoying or threatening phone call, contact the Bellevue Police at 293-3100. IF THE CALL YOU RECEIVE INVOLVES A THREAT ON YOUR LIFE OR DEVELOPS INTO A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY If the call is not life threatening, there are several things you can do before calling the police or before officers arrive. First, if you are a Qwest customer, you can receive assistance from Qwest or the Bellevue Police if you trace the call. To use Qwest call tracing:
The telephone number of the caller will be recorded by Qwest. Deterrent action can be taken by Qwest or the Bellevue Police after three calls from the same number are identified. You will not be given the name or the telephone number of the person who called you. If you are not a Qwest customer, contact your phone company or the Bellevue Police for assistance. Note: For those people who have caller I.D., do not erase the caller I.D. If the police come to your house they may need to view the caller I.D. log. Try to save the number from the harassing caller. Child AbuseHow can I report child abuse? What are some common signs of child abuse? If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, immediately contact either the Bellevue Police Department or the Nebraska Department Of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services at 1-800-652-1999. It is the policy of the Bellevue Police Department to investigate all reported cases of child abuse or neglect. Some common indicators of child abuse that you can be aware of are:
Elderly or Vulnerable Adult AbuseHow can I report abuse of an elderly person or a vulnerable adult? What are the signs? Elder abuse is prevalent throughout the United States, with approximately 1 million known cases occurring annually. The syndrome is characterized by the infliction of physical, emotional, or psychological harm on an older adult. Abuse can occur through unwitting or deliberate actions. Most cases of abuse are committed in residential rather than institutional settings, and the most likely culprits are spouses, children, siblings, relatives, or paid caregivers. In older persons, the most common types of maltreatment are neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, and physical abuse. Financial exploitation also is common among older persons. In Nebraska, it is illegal , through a knowing and intentional act causes or permits a vulnerable adult to be physically injured, unreasonably confined, sexually abused, exploited, cruelly punished, or denied essential services. If you have information that a elderly person is being abused, immediately call either the Bellevue Police Department or the Nebraska Department Of Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services at 1-800-652-1999. Some signs to look for in regards to elder / vulnerable adult abuse are:
Identity TheftI believe that someone stole my "identity." What can I do? As of July 20, 2002, several changes have been made to Nebraska law dealing with identity theft under LB 276. The definition of "Criminal Impersonation" has been expanded to include obtaining "personal identification documents or personal identifying information ," then using the information to access or attempt to access the financial resources of another without authorization. "Criminal Impersonation" and "Unauthorized Use Of A Financial Transaction Device" have been amended so that the classification of the offense will be based on the dollar amounts involved in theft crimes, making these offenses more serious in nature. Additionally, several new crimes have created:
If you become the victim of identity theft, you need to act quickly to prevent any further damage. Before you call the Bellevue Police, here are some things you can do right away.
The Bellevue Police Department has created a brochure about identify theft for your convenience. Click here to download. Missing PersonsWhat are the Bellevue Police Department's policies involving missing juveniles or adults? How do I report a juvenile or adult missing? What happens then? Juveniles Under The Age Of 18 It is the policy of the Bellevue Police Department, under the provisions of state and federal law, to immediately accept a complaint of a missing juvenile under the age of 18 without waiting any set amount of time. Once the Bellevue Police take a report of a missing juvenile, the information will immediately enter a missing persons record in both state and national law enforcement systems and the Bellevue Police will make the details of the report available to the appropriate state missing persons clearinghouse. After this is completed, the Bellevue Police will attempt to follow-up on each and every available lead until the juvenile is found, returns home, or the leads are exhausted. The Criminal Investigations Division of the Bellevue Police Department will also receive copies of the case reports for further investigation. An active effort shall be expended to locate the reported missing juvenile due to the fact that these cases are a priority and that an unsupervised juvenile is very susceptible to becoming a crime victim. Also, he or she may already be a crime victim and this may have been the reason for him or her leaving home. Once a juvenile returns home or is located, the Bellevue Police will complete a "clearance report" and will interview the juvenile in an attempt to determine the surrounding reasons behind their absence. Should the Bellevue Police find through questioning the juvenile that they may be in danger if they are left home, they will be removed from the home following standard operating procedures in a child abuse case. The juvenile will then be removed as a "missing person" from state and national computers. The Criminal Investigations Division will perform at least weekly checks on the status of all missing juveniles or as the investigating officer deems necessary. Juveniles Under The Age Of 19 When a report of a missing juvenile over 18 years of age is received, all of the same procedures indicated above will be followed except that the reporting party will be informed that because of the child's age, we cannot force them to return home. If Officers locate a missing juvenile who falls into this category, they will request that the juvenile contact the person who reported them missing and will also ensure the juveniles well-being. Officers will also notify the reporting party of the missing juveniles location and well-being. Missing Adults In respecting an adults right to privacy, the Bellevue Police Department will only take a report of a missing adult if one of the following circumstances is met:
CurfewDoes The City Of Bellevue Have A Curfew? What Is It? What Are The Exceptions? Yes. The City Of Bellevue has a strictly enforced curfew of 10:00 p.m. for anyone under the age of 18. No person under 18 years of age shall remain in or upon any street, alley or public place in the City of Bellevue at night after 10:00 p.m. unless the person is:
Juveniles who are found to be in violation of curfew will be cited into juvenile court and will have their parents or guardians contacted. If no parent or guardian can be contacted, the juvenile will be taken to the Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center and will remain there until they are released to a parent or guardian. Disorderly ConductWhat Constitutes Disorderly Conduct? The Bellevue Police are empowered to make sure that peace, quiet, and good order are maintained in the city. Consequently, there are certain actions which have been specifically outlawed by city ordinance to make this possible. In the City Of Bellevue, it shall be unlawful to disturb the peace and good order of the City:
Park RegulationsDo The City Parks Have A Closing Time? What Is It? Unless otherwise provided and posted, all park and playground areas in the City and City cemeteries shall be closed to the public at 10:00 p.m. daily. Alcohol in Public PlacesCan I Consume Alcohol In A Public Place? Are There Exceptions? Under City Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to consume alcoholic liquors in the public parks, streets, alleys, parking areas, roads or highways, or inside vehicles while upon the public parks, streets, alleys, parking areas, roads or highways. Additionally, alcoholic liquors cannot be consumed upon any property owned by the state or any governmental subdivision thereof. The City Council may authorize and issue a waiver for this ordinance for special occasions. Open BurningAre Open Burns Allowed Within The City? What Are The Regulations? Burn barrels are prohibited within the Bellevue city limits. Small fires for cooking purposes (i.e. grills, cooking ring, outdoor fire place with cooking grates or underground cooking pits are allowed). Charcoal grills are not allowed on wooden decks of any multi-family dwelling (apartment complex) The only materials that can be burned with a burn permit are trees, brush, weeds, garden waste, and natural vegetation. Burning of these materials shall be in small piles, and may be inspected at any time. Burning of manufactured wood, such as pallets, deck wood, or any type of structural materials; any type of paper, plastic, or rubber, or any types of vehicles or parts of vehicles are not allowed. A burn permit must be obtained from the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department before any materials are burned. Burn permits can be obtained Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the District #1 Fire Station (211 West 22nd Ave, Bellevue (directly behind City Hall)) for a fee of $5.00 . When burning with a permit, there must be a responsible person in attendance with a water supply adequate to put out the fire, if needed. For further information or questions, please contact Fire Investigator K.C. Bang or Fire Investigator Mike Stucker at 293-3100. SolicitorsWhat Are The Rules Regarding Solicitors? Solicitors are not allowed to be in and upon any private residence in the City unless they have been requested or invited to do so by the owner or occupant of such private residence. Solicitors are also required to be licensed by the City. 911 vs Non-emergencyWhen should I use 911 as opposed to non-emergency numbers? You should call 911 when there is a life or death emergency that requires the immediate response of one of the emergency services such as the police department, fire department, or a rescue squad. Always call 911 when there is a medical problem or something that requires the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department to respond. You should also call 911 if there is a crime in progress (occurring at that time) which needs the immediate attention of the Bellevue Police Department to protect a life or property. If you should need to call 911, here are some important steps to follow:
When there is a situation that requires police response, but is not an emergency or is not occurring at the time of your call, contact the Bellevue Police non-emergency number at 293-3100. |
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