BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BELLEVUE
- Police investigated the killing. Now they hope to prevent others.
Bellevue's most violent crime in years is prompting a new kind of community-oriented policing - self-defense training.
The class, set for Dec. 1, marks the second time in recent weeks that Northern Kentucky police departments have turned violent attacks into teaching tools.
Last night, Boone County Police sponsored a seminar about preventing sexual assault. It, too, was prompted by violent attacks there. Bellevue's class comes in the wake of the Sept. 26 beating death of Kathleen Mitts by an intruder. She was asleep when, police say, Daniel Chenot broke in and beat her with a baseball bat. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against him.
"The neighbors were certainly upset that something like that could happen," Police Chief Rick Sears said. "We don't have very much violent street crime. So this is our offering to the community."
The idea came from Mayor Tom Wiethorn. From there, Chief Sears gathered together several officers involved in martial arts and found another, Officer Jimmie Poynter, to teach other safety tips. He'll talk and give other personal and home safety tips, including some pegged specifically to the upcoming holiday season.
The class is free, with the cost covered by the city. Fliers advertising it will be going up around the city soon.
To sign up, call 431-8866 by Nov. 24.
