Neighborhood Watch Program Information

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F10)Jf2 7/ The Role of Law Enforcement in Neighborhood Watch As the sheriff or police chief, you are the law enforcement leader in your community, and the impetus and pacesetter for NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH in your jurisdiction. Whether your program is new or well established, it requires you continuous and enthusiastic support. Without your sincere involvement, needed programs are not likely to get off the ground; and interest in existing programs will wane. EVERYONE BENEFITS WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT MAINTAINS A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. Ninety-five percent of the NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH groups in the United States are currently receiving assistance form law enforcement agencies. ResponsUlities of the Sheriff and Police Chief Because NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH programs operate with volunteers and shoestring budget or no budgets at all, they can benefit greatly from your agency's help. Be prepared to commit equipment, training, operating space, speakers, liaison officers, and crime statistic information, as well as encouragement and guidance, to the program in you jurisdiction. Most successful NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH groups engage in a wide range of activities beyond passive surveillance. By working with them, your department and the community will share in the rewards. You will be truly impressed with the initiative and responsibility citizens will assume for "hardening" their neighborhoods against crime if you will encourage them and work with them. Communities reporting decreasing crime after starting NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH typically praise their leaders with comments like, "Our Sheriff (or Chief) got our program going and has stuck with it since. It's the best thing we've had happen here in a long, long time!" Establishing New NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Groups In establishing and supporting NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, you must first identify the organizational section, unit, and officer(s) who will have overall responsibility for the groups in you jurisdiction. Select only those officers or deputies who are willing to commit themselves totally to act as liaison with WATCH Coordinators. Outgoing personalities and impeccable reputations are desirable traits for those officers. More importantly, however, THEY MUST HAVE AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CRIME PREVENTION.