Wintergreen Police Department

08/27/2026

Using the 988 Lifeline is free. When you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline, your conversation is confidential. The 988 Lifeline provides you judgment-free care. Talking with someone can help save…

08/24/2026

🔒 Protecting Your Personal Property

A few simple steps can go a long way when it comes to keeping your belongings safe. Check out our latest video for some quick tips on protecting your personal property and helping prevent theft.

08/19/2026

Is the trash can dinner bell going off at your place?

08/17/2026

08/12/2026

🐻 See a bear? Don’t panic! Give it some space, keep your distance, and let it do its thing.

BearWise has some simple tips on what to do if you run into a bear — because knowing what to do ahead of time is always a good idea!

Check it out 👇

Steps to avoid bear encounters hiking, camping. Keep bears from getting into your cars. What to do if you see a bear.

08/11/2026

VAHSO Safety Messaging - School's Back in Session - Drive Carefully!

School’s back in session which means our roads will be even busier with school buses, teen drivers, parents dropping off younger students, and children walking to and from school. As traffic increases, we would like to remind road users to make safe choices on the road.

In 2025, there were 1,612 crashes involving pedestrians, 22,529 speed related crashes, and 17,357 crashes involving distracted drivers across Virginia. With students heading back to the classroom, keeping them safe should be a priority for everyone.

The Virginia Highway Safety Office (VAHSO) asks for your support in reminding Virginia communities to keep up safe driving and walking habits. This campaign focuses on pedestrian safety, distracted driving, and speed prevention. VAHSO encourages the following behaviors to help protect students:

For Pedestrians:

· Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.

· Cross the street only at designated crosswalks.

· Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road.

· Ensure children under 10 do not cross the street alone.

For Drivers:

· Stay alert, and watch for pedestrians, especially at night.

· Always yield to pedestrians.

· Never pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

· Minimize blind spots and avoid distractions.

Speed Prevention

· Always consider road, weather, and traffic conditions, and reduce your speed when necessary.

· Follow posted speed limits and be especially alert to reduced speed limits in school zones.

· Plan ahead to avoid rushing and the temptation to speed.

Distracted Driving Prevention

· Enter directions into your vehicle’s navigational system before driving.

· Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature or place your cell phone out of reach until you arrive at your destination.

· Speak up if you are a passenger and your driver is distracted.

· Stay alert for pedestrians, bicyclists, school buses, crossing guards, and other drivers on the road.

VAHSO encourages our partners to utilize campaign materials, safety messages, and resources to help keep everyone safe this school year.

We appreciate and thank you for your support and partnership to improve highway safety across Virginia.

08/11/2026

🐻 Feeding your pets outside? You may be inviting more than just your four-legged friends.

Pet food is highly attractive to bears, and even an empty bowl can leave behind a scent that brings them back looking for an easy meal.

BearWise recommends feeding pets indoors whenever possible and bringing food bowls inside after your pets are finished eating.

A few simple changes can help keep pets, people, and bears safe. 🐾

Learn more from BearWise:

Eight tips for protecting pets and people in bear country. What to do if a bear is near your pet’s food. How to feed & store pet food.

08/10/2026

Our officers recently completed Autism Response Protocol training with the University of Virginia, focused on better understanding and safely assisting individuals with autism during calls for service.

The training provided our officers with valuable tools to help recognize signs of autism, improve communication, and use practical de-escalation techniques to create safer and more positive interactions. We appreciate the time and expertise shared by the UVA trainers who helped provide this important training to our department.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to the Hussman Institute for Autism for generously donating 13 sensory kits to the Wintergreen Police Department at no cost. These kits will be available for our officers to use when responding to situations involving individuals with autism and include resources designed to help reduce stress, provide comfort, and support communication during challenging moments.

Having these tools available gives our officers another way to connect with members of our community and provide thoughtful, compassionate service when it matters most.

We are grateful for the partnership and support from both the University of Virginia and the Hussman Institute for Autism. Partnerships like these help us continue learning, growing, and better serving our community. 💙