 Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is a group of concerned people working together to drive crime from their neighborhood. Watch members get to know their neighbors and work with them in spotting and reporting crime to the Sheriff's Department.
The security of a neighborhood and its citizens depends upon the people themselves. The police department cannot function effectively unless it has the support and cooperation of the people it serves. The neighborhood and the Sheriff's Department should work together towards the elimination of crime. The Neighborhood Watch Program establishes a communication system between the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and the neighbors.
The Community Service officers of the Sheriff's Department coordinate the program, and work in cooperation with the local Neighborhood Watch group and the community organizer, called the Neighborhood Liaison. The Neighborhood Liason will help you to organize and maintain a Neighborhood Watch Program in your area.
Our Community Service Officers are available to speak to your group on a variety of Crime Prevention topics such as home security, and personal safety. For more information call 1-800-764-4111.
It is important to involve as many people as possible in your Neighborhood Watch, the more people involved, the more effective the program. A goal should be established to get at least 50% of the people on the block involved. The area covered by your group should be one city block, this is known as a "Block Club". On one city block, everyone is close together and all homes are visible to those in the area. After your block is established, you can invite residents on nearby blocks to set up their own "Block Clubs" and to work with you to keep your neighborhood safe.
In the beginning, a temporary block captain should be chosen. Once the program is started, a block captain, and an assistant should be elected. The block captain is responsible for scheduling regular meetings and keeping members informed, but has no more legal authority than any other citizen.
What are the responsibilities of the Neighborhood Watch Member? First, get to know your neighbors, be able to recognize them and where they live. This will help you to recognize strangers. Second, look beyond your own home, see what is happening in your neighborhood, is someone prowling around a house, is there a strange car in a driveway, are your neighbor's lights on when they normally are not? Whenever suspicious activity is observed, Notify the Police Immediately. Don't assume that it is "probably nothing". The police would rather answer ten unfounded suspicious person calls, than miss just one burglary or other crime that could have been prevented.
|
