Help Request: Anyone ever organized a neighborhood watch?

[JM]

All,

My wife $ just saw a drug deal on the corner near our house. This is a good neighborhood, but recently dealing has increased and the Police cutbacks are not helping. I just looked at the state crime numbers for May and June for 2002-2004, and it looks like the drug arrest numbers reported are decreasing by 33% this year.

Any advice on starting and running a block watch program are greatly appreciated.

JM

[cheezus]

1. Oh no! Kids in your neighborhood are getting stoned!

Call in the Guard! Argghhh!!!

[JM]

2. If it were that simple...

...I wouldn't care.

Dealing heroin out in the open I have a bit of a problem with. We have a serious problem with heroin a few blocks over, and the number of addicts is increasing in our area. That means the related crimes are increasing as well. Home invasions and burglaries haven't happened on our block yet, but they have a few blocks over.

With the police force and everything else in our city being decimated with cutbacks, we need to do something.

JM

[olddem43]

3. In many cities, you can get help in setting up

blockwatch programs by calling the police themselves. They usually have some citizen/community contact person that can give out information. Just don't call the emergency number.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Your police dept. probably has an office that helps set these up.

They will send an officer to make a presentation to the neighborhood, and help get the signs, etc.

[brook]

5. I started one.

I made up letters and put them in everyone's mailbox, asking them to come to a meeting at my house. I called the police department and had an officer come talk to us. They supplied some written materials, including small window signs and even arranged to put a street sign up that indicated we had an active Neighborhood Watch program.

It was a success on several levels. People who had lived there for years were happy to finally get to know neighbors, for one thing. At the end of the first year we had a great block party and our Council representative joined us. Another benefit is that you then have a relationship with your local enforcement agency and they are more apt to respond to any concerns you have.

Good luck to you.

[JM]

6. Brook, thanks

for your response.

We have a mixed block in terms of older neighbors and younger families. Our problem is the city is nearly bankrupt so they are cutting back everywhere, including police. My biggest fear is as soon as we do this, the younger families will all bolt to the suburbs. Hopefully we get the same response you did.

JM