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Neighborhood Watch Program
Neighborhood Watch is the cornerstone of the Ogden City Police Departments crime prevention strategy. It enlists the active participation of residents, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce crime in communities throughout the city.The program calls upon residents to step forward and assist the police in organizing the community into a cohesive unit working toward the goal of building a safer, crime-free neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch groups discuss neighborhood crime problems with the objective of developing solutions to local problems.
Block Captains
The continuity and success of the Neighborhood Watch program hinges on the person referred to as the Block Captain. The "Block Captain" is a community member who acts as a liaison between those who work and/or live in a particular area, and the officers assigned to that area. Through the Block Captain, and neighborhood general meetings, officers pass along crime prevention tips and information to members of the community. This liaison is maintained on an informal basis within the framework of the Neighborhood Watch group.
Getting Organized
When a group decides to form a Neighborhood Watch, contact the police department or local crime prevention organization for help in training members in home security and reporting skills and for information on local crime patterns. Select a coordinator and block captain who are responsible for organizing meetings and relaying information to members. Recruit members, keep up-to-date on new residents and make special efforts to involve the elderly, working parents, and young people. Work with local government and law enforcement to put up Neighborhood Watch signs, usually after at least 50 percent of all households in a neighborhood are enrolled.
What Neighborhood Watch Members Look For
Someone screaming or shouting for help. Someone looking into windows and parked cars. Unusual noises. Property being taken out of houses where no one is at home or a business is closed. Cars, vans, or trucks moving slowly with no apparent destination, or without lights. Anyone being forced into a vehicle. A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child. Report these incidents to the police department. Talk about the problem with your neighbors.
How To Report
Give your name and address. Briefly describe the event - what happened, when, where, and who was involved. Describe the suspect: sex and race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, distinctive characteristics such as beard, mustache, scars, tattoos or accent. Describe the vehicle if one was involved: color, make, model, year, license plate, and special features such as stickers, dents, or decals.
Keeping your Neighborhood Watch Group Active
It's an unfortunate fact that when a neighborhood crime crisis goes away, so does enthusiasm for Neighborhood Watch. Work to keep your Watch group a vital force for community well-being. Organize regular meetings that focus on current issues such as drug abuse, "hate" or bias-motivated violence, crime in schools, child care before and after school, recreational activities for young people, and victim services. Organize community patrols to walk around streets or apartment complexes and alert police to crime and suspicious activities and identify problems needing attention. People in cars with cellular phones or CB radios can patrol. Adopt a park school playground. Pick up litter, repair broken equipment, paint over graffiti. Work with local building code officials to require dead bolt locks, smoke alarms, and other safety devices in new and existing homes and commercial buildings. Publish a newsletter that gives prevention tips and local crime news, recognizes residents of all ages who have "made a difference," and highlights community events. Don't forget social events that give neighbors a chance to know each other - a block party, potluck dinner, volleyball or softball game, picnic.
Neighborhood Watch Application Form
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