Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch

Officer Wes Cooperwcooper@benbrookpd.com817-249-6077 M-F 7a to 3p

Officer Doug Byrddbyrd@benbrookpd.com

817-249-2752x6111 M-F 8a to 4p

Goals

• Discuss the importance of Neighborhood Watch

• Discuss the Elements of Starting a Neighborhood Watch

• Discuss what the Police Department can do for you.

Meeting Discussion

• What do you hope to gain from this meeting?• Are you wanting to be a part of the solution?– Big Part?– Small Part?

• Do you know your Neighbor?• Is your Neighbor here?

What is important

• Felling a sense of security while in your Neighborhood.

• Resale value of your home.• Getting people to care about there

Neighborhood when things are good.

How do we help the important things?

• Neighborhood cohesion – neighbors who know and look out for each other – is among the strongest features of safer neighborhoods, according to researchers at Harvard University.

•WHAT IS THE BEST Neighborhood Watch Program ?

Sittin on the Porch

Whoa!! ANDY we don’t have a porch!

•Know your Neighbor.•Be a nosey Neighbor.

R U willin 2 do that?

WARNING • The following information is boring and

brought to you by the National Crime Prevention Counsel.

• IF you need to stand so that you don’t fall asleep that is OK. This is not a formal class.

The BenefitsNeighborhood Watch • Unites the community and increases

neighborhood cohesion Did we cover that?

• Reduces fear of crime in the community • Improves crime reporting by citizens• Increases surveillance in the community – Nosey Neighbor

• Prevents and reduces crime • Enhances homeland security

The Benefits (cont.)Studies show Neighborhood Watch is effectivebecause• It brings neighbors together around a common

cause – safety and security. • It provides basic skills to all members on

preventing crime and reporting suspicious activity or crimes.

• It builds a base for correcting neighborhood problems.

• It works well with other civic activities.

OK Back to…..

• Do you want to do a little

• …… or do a lot.

• Both are OK as long as you DO

Basic Components• Planning committee, chair/coordinator,

section leader• Communications: email, phone tree,

meetings, special outreach, and partnering with other neighborhood groups

• Neighborhood Watch signs on the street and in windows

• Partnership with local law enforcement

How To Start Neighborhood Watch

• Every community resident can and should join – young or old, single or married, renter or home owner, business or household.

• Identify different tasks that different residents can take on. There should be roles for everyone who wants to help.

How To Start Neighborhood Watch (cont.)

• Involve local law enforcement – ( done that)

• Arrange a kickoff meeting – (we are here are we not?)

• Identify the Neighborhood• Select leaders• Train residents in Neighborhood Watch

basics and in observation and reporting

Identify the Neighborhood

Divided and Conquer

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Leadership• Select leaders (chair/coordinator, section

leaders, committee chairs) with an eye toward interest, “people skills,” and commitment.

• Duties of chair/coordinator: Works to sustain and expand program; maintains current list of participants, arranges training, obtains crime prevention materials, coordinates with police and outside partners.

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Leadership (cont.)

Leaders should not serve forever. Rotateleadership periodically.• Even the most energetic and dedicated

leaders lose stamina

The Chair

Who wants it?

Section Leader

• Responsible for their section of the neighborhood.• Responsibilities– Knowing what is “normal” for your section– Documenting what cars belong to what house– Documenting who is at home during the day

• Basically knowing your neighbors

– Being a source of information for residents in your section– Maintaining a contact list for people in your section

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Section Leader• Relays information to members• Recruits seniors and youth • Convenes and chairs block meetings• Recruits newcomers • Coordinates check-ins on shut-in residents• Helps identify block problems • Notifies chair/coordinator of changes in

resident information

Divided and Conquer

• Leader for purple• Leader for blue• Leader for green• Leader for yellow

• The chair can also be a section leader but not recommend

Now that is done…

What does a Neighborhood Watch

DO!

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How To Start Neighborhood Watch (cont.)• Assess neighborhood needs• Build participation• Maintain energy • Celebrate with your neighbors

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Meetings

– Make it a team effort. Share concerns.– Decide to address one or two important issues to

start. – Ask for volunteers and assign tasks. – Agree on a meeting schedule.

Now the LEGAL Stuff!

•Watch groups are not

vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and extra hands for helping neighbors.

Lesson ONE Observation

• Think like a COP!–In God we trust…..•All others we investigate!

Lesson Two Observation

• Don’t be afraid to go with your gut!!–If you think something is wrong.• IT is … Call the Police

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Observation (cont.)

• Neighbors should look and listen for…– Someone screaming or shouting for help– Someone looking into windows and parked cars – Unusual noises– Property being taken from houses where no one is

at home– Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly with no

apparent destination, or with no lights on

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Observation (cont.)

• Neighbors should also look for…– Anyone being forced into a vehicle – A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a

child– Abandoned cars– Any unusual activity in businesses, alleys, isolated

areas, and notorious problem spots in your neighborhood

Guess WHAT !!!!

• Calling the police does not cost you anything extra.

• Calling the police gets an officer to come to your neighborhood.

• Calling the police keeps us from driving around in circles.

• Calling the police just save that guy from getting a speeding ticket.

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Reporting Crime• Stay calm.• It is important not to panic even though you

might be scared. • Call the police immediately!• On the phone, give the police the most

important information first – the location of the crime, the type of crime, whether there are injuries, where the criminal went, etc.

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Reporting Crime (cont.)• Write down what you saw and heard

IMMEDIATELY!• Tell the police what happened, when,

where, and who was involved.• Describe the suspect: sex, race, age, height,

weight, hair color, distinctive characteristics (facial hair, scars, tattoos, accent, etc.).

• Describe any vehicle involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features: stickers, dents, or decals, as well as direction of travel from the crime scene.

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Reporting Crime (cont.)• You may be asked to make a complaint or

testify in court. Remember, if you don’t help the police, the criminal might hurt someone else.

• The police may ask you to attend a lineup or look through collections of “mug shots” to try to identify the person you saw commit the crime.

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Questions and Answers