Welcome to the community education page. The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is a community outreach organization and we take pride in providing education / information to our citizens. Empowering the public by providing educational and informational opportunites assists Law Enforcment in their daily mission of helping those they serve. Therefore, we hope this page will assist you in obtaining the information you seek, and If you have any suggestions for us to provide information that you do not see on this page, please let us know.

Per the Wyoming Department of Transportation:

31-5-956 (e)  Tires, restriction of travel under hazardous conditions; penalties

When the chain law is in effect due to snow, ice or other conditions, travel on a highway may be restricted to use only by motor vehicles utilizing adequate snow tires or tire chains,  motor vehicles that are all-wheel drive or necessary emergency vehicles, including snow plows.  In extremely hazardous conditions, travel may be resticted to use only by necessary emergency vehicles, including snow plows, and those vehicles utilizing tire chains or to all-wheel drive vehicles utilizing adequate snow tires with a mud and snow or all-weather rating from the manufacturer having a tread of sufficient abrasive or skid-resistant design or composition and depth to provide adequate traction under existing driving conditions.  The prohibition or restriction of use shall be effective when signs, including temporary or electronic signs, giving notice thereof are erected upon that protion of the highway, and it shall be unlawful to proceed in violation of the notice.

The operator of a commercial vehicle shall affix tire chains to at least two (2) of the drive wheels of the vehicle at opposite ends of the same drive axle when the vehicle is required to utilize tire chains under this subsection......

31-5-956 (j) -Penalties - Any person who operates a motor vehicle in violation of these restrictions under subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $250.00.  Any person who operates a motor vehicle, where the results of the violation is an incident that causes the closure of all lanes in one (1) or both directions of travel of that highway, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $750.00.  

31-5-956 (k) - As used in this section, "tire chains" means metal chains which consist of two (2) circular metal loops, one (1) on each side of the tire, connected by not less than nine (9) evenly spaced chains across the tire tread and any other traction devices differing from metal chains in construction, material or design but capable of providing traction equal to or exceeding that of metal chains under similar conditions.

If you receive a call and the calling party claims to be a member of our local court alleging you have failed to show up for your civic jury duty appointment; beware!
There is a new scam afoot whereby people are receiving calls from a supposed “jury coordinator” who is a scammer.   If you protest that you haven’t received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your social security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the warrant for your arrest.  
Give out any of this information and bingo: Your identity is just stolen. 
This scam is particularly insidious because scammers use intimidation to bully people into giving information by pretending the caller is with the court system. 

For more information: 
www.FBI.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm                                              www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

As men and women head to the hills this hunting season, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Know Your Destination:  Leave your destination with someone at home, try and be as specific as possible, narrow the area down to specific drainages/peaks, etc.  If possible, be sure to update parties at home if you are moving to another area.
Make A Plan: Make a realistic plan of when you will be returning, remember to factor in the time delay of a late kill.  Decide when it would be reasonable to truly be considered missing and or endangered.
Be Prepared: Be prepared for an overnight stay if the worst should happen.  Remember that weather here can change in a heartbeat so layer clothing, just because it may be sunny when you leave doesn’t mean it will stay that way.  Carry a first aid kit.
Be Aware: Be aware of your environment and body. Dehydration - Adults require two quarts of water a day, sometimes as much as four quarts with strenuous activities.  If you only drink when you are thirsty you are already dehydrated.  Remember that just because the water looks clean, it doesn’t mean that it is.  If possible, boil it for 3-5 minutes or treat with iodine tablets if your original water supply runs out. According to Doug Meyer, Teton County Search and Rescue coordinator " it is more important to drink water when you are definitely in need, than it is to worry about the water having giardia. Too many people that we rescue would rather be seriously dehydrated than take a small risk of getting some water born bacteria that can be treated easily later."
Altitude Sickness – symptoms may start as a cough, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, staggering gait, and severe headache.  Be sure to breathe slowly taking deep breaths, rest, drink plenty of water, eat a quick energy food and treat the headache.  If symptoms persist, immediately seek lower elevation.
Hypothermia- Exposure to elements is more dangerous than hunger and thirst.  Symptoms of a hypothermic state include uncontrollable fits of shivering, slow slurred speech, memory lapse, physical clumsiness, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.  The best defense against hypothermia is to avoid exposure, recognize and dress for the weather, stay dry and protected from the wind.
Don’t Panic: If you become lost stay calm.  Think clearly and logically.  Search out a highpoint with good views, look for familiar landmarks, trails, streams, etc.  If possible, find a drainage and follow it downstream.  If you are injured, near exhaustion, or it is becoming dark, stay where you are.  Again, have a plan and stick with it.
Be Safe: Follow four basic rules of firearm safety.
Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
Point the muzzle only at something you are willing to destroy, always point in safe direction.
Be positive of your target. Don’t take ridgeline shots; be sure there is a safe backdrop.
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.  

By following these basic guidelines and using your common sense we can all have a safe and enjoyable hunting season here in Teton County.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE TECHNOLOGY

PURPOSE

more

Shoplifters assume they won`t get caught. So your strategy is to prove them wrong. The following tips require thought and ingenuity, but cost very little. Alert employees are your best defense. Make sure they are familiar with shoplifting laws. Establish procedures for them to follow if they suspect shoplifting.

• Make sure you can see everything that goes on in your store. Keep counters low, no more than waist-high. Mount mirrors in corners so there are no blind spots.
• Arrange counters and display tables so there`s no direct route to the exit.
• Some stores put turnstiles at entrances so the only way out is to pass the checkout counter. Place expensive items in the center of the store away from exits.
• Arrange displays so that missing items are easily noticed. Place small items in neat rows or clearly defined patterns. If you must, fasten expensive merchandise and attach alarms. Reverse alternate hangers of hanging garments to prevent "grab and runs."
• Announce and observe a policy to prosecute shoplifters. The threat of being caught, questioned by police, put on trial and maybe even put in jail, may be enough to discourage shoplifters. If someone ignores your warning, follow through. An empty threat is a meaningless gesture.

Shoplifters use the following to conceal items:

• Bulky clothing (coats, pants, maternity outfits) are often used to hide merchandise.
  Packages, bags, backpacks and purses are hiding places, and sometimes they may have false bottoms.
• Special props include hollowed-out books, fake casts, umbrellas, secret pockets, belts or hooks under coats.
• Folded newspapers or magazines are used to hide small or flat items.

What to look for:

• Be aware of customer`s hands and their pockets, purses, handkerchiefs.
• Notice open packages, purses, shopping bags, backpacks.
• Watch for customers who are nervous, have wandering eyes, are loitering or lingering in hidden areas.
• Watch groups of people, especially if a person tries to distract you.

Employees are not exempt.
Some experts believe businesses lose more to employee theft than to burglary, robbery and shoplifting combined. Examine your management practices. Make your employees feel that they`ve got a stake in your business. Then they won`t be tempted to steal it away!

Embezzlement & Pilferage

Sometimes employees only take a few items, like office supplies, or they use company equipment, like cars or copying machines, for personal use. But embezzlement and pilferage can get bigger. Cashiers may use "short ring ups" - ringing up a lower price on the sales register to cover money they`ve taken from the till. Or they may overcharge customers and pocket the difference or undercharge other employees and friends.

Embezzlement can go from simple overloading of expense accounts to payments made to non-existent companies. Watch for the following:

• Records are rewritten so they`ll look "neater."
• Stock shortages increase in frequency or size.
• Employees refuse vacations or promotions.
• Business patterns change when a certain employee is absent.
• Customers complain about errors in monthly statements.
• Collections decline.
• Employees seem sensitive to routine questions about procedures.

Maintain Strict Inventory Control
There are many ways dishonest employees can cheat their employers:

• A cashier in a grocery store "accidentally" damages boxes and cans so she can buy them at reduced prices.
• A maintenance worker stashes calculators and typewriters in trash bins.
• A stock clerk saves discarded customer receipts and uses them to show that stolen goods were "paid for."

The best defense is frequent, thorough inventory control. Limit employees access to stock and inventory records. Periodically check trash bins, nooks and crannies. Conduct unexpected inventory checks so dishonest employees know they run the risk of being caught by surprise.
Computer Fraud

Computers are used for checkout, billing, inventory records and payrolls. Computers can be tampered with to commit theft, larceny, embezzlement and fraud. Here are some tips to protect your business from computer crooks:

• Make sure your computer is programmed to prevent unauthorized use.
• Separate programmer and operator functions.
• Minimize after-hours access to the computer.
• Monitor and log computer activity.

Bribery and Kickbacks
The employee who lets a business secret slip for a price; the loading supervisor who ignores a short order for a fee; the contract officer who will speed things up for a gift. These are examples of bribery. It may not seem like a big problem at first, but these little favors can mean big trouble.

Watch for the following:

• Purchasing agents use one supplier despite a policy of rotating suppliers.
• Employees associate with vendors or suppliers.
• Employees receive free tickets for sports events, shows, etc.
• Reputable businesses refuse to submit bids.
• One person has responsibility for issuing and approving bids.

To fight the problem, institute policies against accepting gifts, make sure employees get competitive bids, and rotate purchasing agents and suppliers.
Good Business Management

Tighten hiring practices. Require job applicants to fill out a detailed application, then contact all references and former employers.

Separate Functions

The bookkeeper should never handle cash. The person who mails purchases should not be the one who pays the bills. Your accounting system should enforce accountability through a series of checks and balances. Each function should serve as a check on all transactions that went before. Have an independent company audit your books.

Set A Good Example

The boss who takes merchandise and office supplies without paying encourages employees to do the same.

Keep Employee Morale High

Employees who are treated fairly and generously are less likely to steal. Get to know your employees. Ask for their suggestions and seriously consider them. Involve employees in crime prevention practices. Consider starting a profit-sharing program. Make sure your salary rates are competitive - an underpaid employee may feel that stealing from you merely "makes up the difference."