The Pana Police Department is on a positive run.  The Tri-County Fair and Labor Day parade are complete, with no major issues for the department to address.  The most recent crime numbers are down overall, albeit with increases in certain categories.  Pana Police also are continuing in their efforts to help those in the community suffering from drug addiction get help and recover. 

Meanwhile, the department has noticed new trends in thefts from storage units and other suspicious activities, especially at night.  Police Chief Daniel Bland urges anyone who witnesses any kind of action like this to report it, day or night. 

The Pana Police Department works with several organizations and initiatives on combating drug abuse.  Their goal is to steer community members to the resources they need rather than incarcerate them.  This allows these individuals to focus on getting better and – in the case of one recent example – pay it forward. 

New incident data for July shows calls and other related statistics fell.  This is a contrast to typical summer patterns, where numbers usually rise. 

Chief Bland was involved in the security preparations for the fair and parade last weekend.  The events typically draw around double the number of visitors compared to other large happenings in the city.  This meant many people in the police department and other agencies had to step up. 

More information on the Pana Police Department is available at www.cityofpana.org/police-department.

Police Chief Daniel Bland appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.