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 What are the major components of a Watch Program?
- Community Meetings. These should be set up according
to the needs of the area with at least two meetings per year.
- Citizens’ or community patrol. A citizens’ patrol
is made up of volunteers who walk or drive through the community
and alert police to crime and questionable activities. Not
all Neighborhood Watches need a citizens’ patrol.
- Communications. These can be as simple as a
monthly flier that is handed out or posted on community announcement
boards to a newsletter that updates neighbors on the progress
of the program to a neighborhood electronic bulletin board.
- Special events. These are crucial to keep the
program going and growing. Host talks or seminars that
focus on current issues such as hate or bias-motivated violence,
crime in schools, teenage alcohol and other drug abuse, or
domestic violence. Adopt a park or school playground
and paint over graffiti. Sponsor a block party, holiday
dinner, or volleyball or softball game that will provide the
neighbors a chance to get to know each other.
- Other aspects of community safety. For instance,
start a block parent program to help children in emergency
situations.
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