Wreaths Across America 2015

Here are just a few photographs from when the Knox County Sheriff's Office participated in the 2015 Wreaths Across America recently.

You can find a lot more photos on the Knox County Sheriff's Office Facebook page by clicking HERE.

A reminder about those electronic Christmas presents!

This is a time of year when many of us will receive all kinds of electronic gifts. Since computers are such a large part of our lives, we want to remind everyone to make sure that any new electronic device is secure before using it.

From cell phones and tablets to video games and car navigation systems, please be sure to set up, use, and secure your device correctly. Also make sure that your children's devices are set up securely as well.

Here are some tips from the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US - CERT) about securing new devices:

1. Connect to a SECURE network and secure your router.
2. Enable and configure a firewall: your user's guide has instructions on enabling your firewall. Also consult the user's guide to learn how to configure the security settings and set a strong password that is not easily guessed.
3. Install, use, and update antivirus and antispyware software obtained from reputable sources (directly from the vendor's website).
4. Remove unnecessary software.
5. Modify unnecessary default features: Computers and other devices often have default settings that automatically transmit information to the maker of the device and you probably won't even know it's happening. Go through the systems settings and make sure you're not unknowingly sharing information that you don't want to.
6. Secure your web browser.
7. Make sure you apply software updates and enable automatic future updates.
8. Establish security "rules" for your family's computers: make sure that everyone in the family understands that they need to use different passwords for different sites, should not open email attachments without verifying who sent them, and should never provide private information to anyone over the internet.
9. Do not leave your device unattended in public or in easily accessible areas.
10. Use passwords that are unique and use symbols, numbers, and use both upper and lowercase letters.
11. Know where you are connected! Be careful about public Wi-Fi - any data you transmit while using unsecured public Wi-Fi is out there for anyone to access. That includes passwords, etc. when you are logging into sites or emailing information/pictures/etc.

If you have questions about identity theft or data breaches and would like assistance or general information, Maine Identity Services can help. They publish data breach and identity theft reference materials, training for police, and provide speakers for meetings. You can reach them at 855-463-4343 or email at info@meidhelp.com.

Fatal Crash on Wotton's Mill Road in Union - December 6, 2015

The Knox County Sheriff's Office is investigating a crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers and sent a third teenager to the hospital for what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries. The crash occurred just before midnight on Wotton's Mill Road in Union.

The 17-year-old driver, Caleb Byras, of Litchfield, Maine, and a passenger, 16-year-old Kara Brewer of Rockland, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The other passenger, a 17-year-old female from Warren, was transported by Union Ambulance to the hospital.

Approximately an hour prior to the crash, Rockport Police Officer Craig Cooley had stopped and summonsed driver, Caleb Byras, for speeding. At that time, Mr. Byras had been alone in the vehicle at that time. When Officer Cooley again clocked Mr. Byras an hour later speeding again, he attempted to stop the vehicle on Route 17 in Rockport. Officer Cooley notified the Knox Regional Communications Center that the car was not stopping on his signal to do so, and was headed west on Route 17.

Officer Cooley pursued the vehicle until he lost sign of the car after turning onto Wotton's Mill Road. He notified the Communications Center that he would continue down Wotton's Mill Road to look for the vehicle. More than two miles down the road, Officer Cooley came upon a crash involving the vehicle he had attempted to stop. The car had crossed over to the other side of the road, gone off the road, and crashed into a tree. The force of the impact split the car into two sections, killing the driver and the front seat passenger, who were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Hope and Union Fire assisted on scene and the crash is being reconstructed and mapped by the Maine State Police.