Ingham County Sheriff Gene L. Wriggelsworth
Introduces Community/Neighborhood Watch
in Williamstown
Township
Presenter's Notes
Launch Meeting June 3, 2010
Presenters :
Sergeant Matthew Flint
Deputy Jim Cousino
Captain Jerry Rutherford (Motor Unit)
Purpose
- Introduce a Neighborhood Watch Concept. This is the
first step….
- Begin to establish a partnership between local
residents and law enforcement
- Develop an understanding of law enforcement role in
community
- Remove any past mis-conceptions and begin new phase of
partnering
- Remove the Barriers of the Past
Look Forward approach
- Essential to build a trust relationship between
Residents and Law Enforcement
- The assignment of the Community Police Officer is to
enhance public safety through developed partnerships with the
community residents and local businesses.
- Provide public safety through prudent law enforcement
practices to encourage visitors into the community and enhance
well being of its residents
- It remains the community police officers role to
enforce the law to protect the citizens and property of
Williamstown Township.
Community Oriented Policing (COP)
Defined:
"A policing philosophy that promotes and supports
organizational strategies which support the systematic use of
partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to proactively
address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety
issues such as crime, social disorder and fear of
crime"
Ingham County Sheriff's Office Mission
Statement:
"It is the mission of the Ingham County Sheriff's
Office to assist the people of Ingham County in our mutual desire
for a safe and secure community through our dedication in
providing Correctional, Law Enforcement, and Related Services at
the highest possible standards, while respecting the rights of
all people"
Essential partners in Community Oriented
Policing
- Businesses
- Residents
- Local Government
- State and Federal Government
- Public Service Providers (Fire/EMS)
- Schools and Daycares
- Utility Companies
- Faith Based Organizations/Churches
- Civic Associations
- Volunteer Groups
Why Create a Neighborhood Watch
- NEIGHBORHOOD-
- A NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIP, THE QUALITY OF BEING
NEIGHBOR
- WATCH-
- TO KEEP VIGIL AS A DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE, TO BE
ATTENTIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is a crime prevention program
that stresses education and common sense among people. It teaches
citizens how to help themselves by identifying and reporting
suspicious activity in their neighborhood. It also give citizens
in Lansing the opportunity to give back to their neighborhood by
working together to make the neighborhood safer and improve the
quality of life.
History of Neighborhood Watch
1960- BEGAN IN RESPONSE TO THE RAPE AND MURDER OF
A WOMAN IN NEW YORK. THREE DOZEN WITNESSES DID NOTHING TO SAVE
HER OR TO APPREHEND HER KILLER. WATCH GROUPS THEN FORMED AND THE
IDEA SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
1972- NSA ORGANIZATION FORMED A CONCERTED EFFORT
TO DESIGN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. THEY STARTED TEACHING
OFFICERS AND COMMUNITIES.
ORGANIZATION OF A TYPICAL NW PROGRAM
- -VOLUNTEER BASIS.
- -YOU NEED TO ASSIGN EACH POSITION
- -MAY BE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN EACH POSITION DEPENDING
ON SIZE OF WATCH
- -FILL EACH POSITION- SPREADING THE SPOTS IN YOUR
WATCH. DON'T WANT BLOCK CAPTAINS NEXT DOOR TO EACHOTHER.
-COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- -MAINTAINING LIST OF RESIDENTS AND WATCH
MEMBERS.
- -LIASON BTW MEMBERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
- -ARRANGING TRAINING AND MEETINGS
-BLOCK CAPTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
- -LIASON BTW RESIDENTS AND
- -MAINTAIN THE PHONE TREE
- -INVITING NEW PEOPLE TO JOIN WATCH
TRAINING TOPICS:
- HOME SECURITY
- ROBBERY PREVENTION
- WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
- VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION
- INTERNET SAFETY
- CHILD SAFETY
- BURGLARY PREVENTION
- PERSONAL SAFETY
- FIRE SAFETY
- GANG EDUCATION
- ELDERLY SCAM AND FRAUD
- TEEN SAFETY
Several Initiatives
- E-mail/Internet Based Up-dates and Crime
Alerts
- Quarterly informative Crime Prevention
newsletter
- Abandoned Property crime prevention program surrounding
these properties
- Drug and related crime awareness programs
Planned Community Based events
- Neighborhood Watch Creation and
Development
- National Night Out Neighborhood Watch Recognition in
August
- Community coffee hours at local establishments to
improve communication with residents
- Community Public Safety Seminars
- Parent/Student Drug and other relative Public Safety
Seminars
- Community clean-up days
- Bike Rodeo for juveniles including bike safety
training
- Bike Registration
- Child Fingerprinting
- Law enforcement presence at community
events
Conclusion/Next Step
- Create Internet Presence
- Begin E-Mail Updates
- Draft Quarterly Newsletter
- Create Advisory Board
- RECRUIT>RECRUIT>RECRUIT
