Shelburne Police Department Introduction to the Neighborhood Watch Program

INTRODUCTIONS Chief James Warden Chief James Warden Cpl. Aaron Noble Cpl. Aaron Noble Ptl. Mike Thomas Ptl. Mike Thomas

Welcome For over thirty years the National Sheriffs’ Association’s Neighborhood Watch program has built partnerships between law enforcers and community members to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in their communities. Today, with its continued emphasis on crime reduction, Neighborhood Watch has expanded its mission to include securing the homeland by encouraging, promoting, and empowering people to get involved in their communities through Neighborhood Watch. For over thirty years the National Sheriffs’ Association’s Neighborhood Watch program has built partnerships between law enforcers and community members to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in their communities. Today, with its continued emphasis on crime reduction, Neighborhood Watch has expanded its mission to include securing the homeland by encouraging, promoting, and empowering people to get involved in their communities through Neighborhood Watch.

Community Involvement The strength of our country is rooted in the dedication of individual citizens who value peace, freedom, individual rights, and humanity. USAonWatch works because of the millions of men, women, and children in neighborhoods across America who keep a watchful eye at home on the safety and freedom of the United States. Community Involvement The strength of our country is rooted in the dedication of individual citizens who value peace, freedom, individual rights, and humanity. USAonWatch works because of the millions of men, women, and children in neighborhoods across America who keep a watchful eye at home on the safety and freedom of the United States.USAonWatch This toolkit is rich with information, training, tools, and more to help you and your neighbors work with local law enforcement to organize an effective Neighborhood Watch group. Welcome to the growing effort across America to care for our communities. Together we can make an important difference in the safety of our homeland. This toolkit is rich with information, training, tools, and more to help you and your neighbors work with local law enforcement to organize an effective Neighborhood Watch group. Welcome to the growing effort across America to care for our communities. Together we can make an important difference in the safety of our homeland. Neighborhood Watch Program

A Joint Responsibility The prevention of crime - particularly crime involving residential neighborhoods – is a responsibility that must be shared equally by law enforcement and private citizens. The fact is, the impact on crime prevention by law enforcement alone is minimal when compared with the power of private citizens working with law enforcement and with each other. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is based on this concept of cooperation, and nation wide statistics prove that it works. When citizens take positive steps to secure their own property and neighbors learn how to report suspicious activity around their homes, burglaries and related offenses decrease dramatically. The prevention of crime - particularly crime involving residential neighborhoods – is a responsibility that must be shared equally by law enforcement and private citizens. The fact is, the impact on crime prevention by law enforcement alone is minimal when compared with the power of private citizens working with law enforcement and with each other. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is based on this concept of cooperation, and nation wide statistics prove that it works. When citizens take positive steps to secure their own property and neighbors learn how to report suspicious activity around their homes, burglaries and related offenses decrease dramatically.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH- Areas Show Crime Drop Throughout the United States, dramatic decreases in burglary and related offenses are reported by law enforcement professionals in communities with active NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH programs. Throughout the United States, dramatic decreases in burglary and related offenses are reported by law enforcement professionals in communities with active NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH programs. Statistics show that when concerned citizenry does its part, the possibilities are endless…and the results positive. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is now the most successful anticrime initiative in the country and the most effective and least expensive tool for restoring the safe, pleasant environment we all want for our families.! This is homeowners’ insurance that works. Statistics show that when concerned citizenry does its part, the possibilities are endless…and the results positive. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is now the most successful anticrime initiative in the country and the most effective and least expensive tool for restoring the safe, pleasant environment we all want for our families.! This is homeowners’ insurance that works.

Starting a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Group You’ve heard about the benefits of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH participation. How do you get a program started in your neighborhood? You’ve heard about the benefits of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH participation. How do you get a program started in your neighborhood?

First… Form a small planning committee of neighbors to discuss needs, level of interest, and possible problems. Decide on a date and place for an initial neighborhood watch MEETING. Form a small planning committee of neighbors to discuss needs, level of interest, and possible problems. Decide on a date and place for an initial neighborhood watch MEETING.

Next… Contact the Police Department. Request that a crime prevention liaison come to a meeting of your group in the near future to discuss NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH and help assess your community’s problems and needs. Contact the Police Department. Request that a crime prevention liaison come to a meeting of your group in the near future to discuss NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH and help assess your community’s problems and needs.

Finally… Contact as many of your neighbors as possible, asking them: Contact as many of your neighbors as possible, asking them: * If they feel at risk of being burglarized or being the victim of other crimes; * If they have taken any steps to protect their homes; and * If they would be willing to attend a meeting to organize a NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH group in your area.

Organizational Flow Chart Shelburne PD Chief warden Block captain Member Block captain Member Block captain Member Block captain Member NW coordinator Shelburne PD liaison

Organizational Structure 1. Shelburne Police, Chief Warden 1. Shelburne Police, Chief Warden 2. Department Liaison, sworn-non sworn staff 2. Department Liaison, sworn-non sworn staff 3. NW Coordinator 3. NW Coordinator 4. NW Block Captains 4. NW Block Captains 5. NW Members 5. NW Members

Program Coordinator The Coordinator’s job is crucial to the success of your program. This may be just the right job for a retiree or other individual who has extra time at home. This person’s responsibilities may include: The Coordinator’s job is crucial to the success of your program. This may be just the right job for a retiree or other individual who has extra time at home. This person’s responsibilities may include: Expanding the program and maintaining a current list of participants and neighborhood residents, including names, addresses, home and work telephone numbers, and vehicle descriptions. Expanding the program and maintaining a current list of participants and neighborhood residents, including names, addresses, home and work telephone numbers, and vehicle descriptions.

Program Coordinator : Acting as liaison between WATCH members, law enforcement officers, civic groups, and block captains; Acting as liaison between WATCH members, law enforcement officers, civic groups, and block captains; Arranging neighborhood crime prevention training; Obtaining and distributing crime prevention materials, such as stickers and signs; Obtaining and distributing crime prevention materials, such as stickers and signs;

The Block Captain’s responsibilities may include; Acting as a liaison between block residents and the Coordinator Acting as a liaison between block residents and the Coordinator Establishing a “telephone Chain” by compiling and distributing a current list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of block participants; Establishing a “telephone Chain” by compiling and distributing a current list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of block participants; The Block Captain

Visiting and inviting new residents to join NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH; notifying them of meetings and training sessions. Establishing the “Operation Identification” program Contacting each neighbor as often as possible to discuss possible crime problems, needs for assistance, and suggestions for program improvements. The Block Captain

Developing Citizen Awareness Through Crime Prevention Programs Recognizing suspicious activity; Recognizing suspicious activity; Describing and reporting events, vehicles, and persons; Describing and reporting events, vehicles, and persons; Home security inspections; Home security inspections; Home security measures; Home security measures; Confrontations with intruders. Confrontations with intruders.

The Role of Law Enforcement in Neighborhood Watch To maintain an unwavering commitment to crime prevention with continuous and enthusiastic support. To maintain an unwavering commitment to crime prevention with continuous and enthusiastic support. Communication with watch members is crucial to the success of the program; newsletters, s, crime alerts, telephone trees, PD Homepage, Face Book or even Twitter. Communication with watch members is crucial to the success of the program; newsletters, s, crime alerts, telephone trees, PD Homepage, Face Book or even Twitter.

80% participate in Operation Identification; 68 % sponsor home security surveys; 38% work on environmental/beautification projects; 27% coordinate Block Parenting programs; 19% engage in some form of Victim Assistance Neighborhood Watch groups surveyed indicate:

Programs of Interest Citizen Patrols Citizen Patrols Victim Assistance Programs Victim Assistance Programs Operation Identification Operation Identification Safehouses for children Safehouses for children Youth Escort Services Youth Escort Services National Night out National Night out Seasonal Crime Prevention Tips Seasonal Crime Prevention Tips Beautification Projects Beautification Projects Fire prevention Programs Fire prevention Programs

Programs of Interest Ident-A-Youth Ident-A-Youth Fundraising Fundraising Rent-A-Teen Rent-A-Teen Auto Bumper Decal Auto Bumper Decal Warmlines Warmlines House Sitting House Sitting House Numbering Projects House Numbering Projects Natural Observers Natural Observers Installation of Security Devices Installation of Security Devices

Neighborhood Watch Just The Beginning