Police Department
Reference: Neighborhood Watch Programs
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Matt Domenico, Deputy Chief of Police
Date Prepared: September 27th, 2022
PURPOSE
To provide council with information on neighborhood watch programs, including the effectiveness of these programs, crime prevention and reduction opportunities, and challenges associated with traditional neighborhood watch groups.
BACKGROUND
Neighborhood watch programs are one of the oldest and best known crime prevention concepts in the United States. Neighborhood watch takes many forms, to include formal groups that meet regularly to loosely organized groups that utilize social media to share information. These groups may be led and organized by law enforcement or concerned citizens. Ultimately neighborhood watch is any group of people living or working in a particular area who desire to decrease crime and improve safety in their neighborhood. Neighborhood watch is designed to work in concert with law enforcement, and formal groups may be assigned a law enforcement liaison. The liaison is a designated point of contact for the group to provide and receive information about criminal activity.
While formal neighborhood watch groups may be the most recognizable of these initiatives, advances in technology in recent years has provided many neighborhoods the ability to communicate and share information even in the absence of a traditional group. It is difficult to know how many of these informal associations exist and how effective they may be in preventing or reducing crime.
Regardless of the type of neighborhood watch program a neighborhood has or desires, they are relatively easy to start. The Brighton Police Department stands ready to assist residents who wish to start a program. The following five steps outline how to get started:
* Recruit and organize as many of your neighbors as possible.
* Contact the Brighton...
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