Members

The Neighborhood Watch 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:

  • Expanding the program and maintaining a current list of participants and neighborhood residents, including names, addresses, home and work telephone numbers, and vehicle descriptions
  • Acting as liaison between Watch members, law enforcement officers, civic groups, and block captains
  • Arranging neighborhood crime prevention training programs
  • Obtaining and distributing crime prevention materials, such as stickers and signs
  • Involving others to develop specific crime prevention projects
  • Encouraging participation in "Operation Identification," a nationwide program in which personal property is marked legibly with a unique identifying number to permit positive identification if valuables are lost or stolen

The Block Captain

Block captains should be designated for every 10 to 15 houses, and they should be directly involved with their immediate neighbors. The block captain's responsibilities may include:

  • Acting as 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
  • 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 improvement

Neighborhood Watch Member's Responsibilities

  • Learning your neighbor's names and being able to recognize them and their vehicles without any hesitation
  • Keeping personal Block map, family data sheets, and telephone tree in an easily accessible place and continue to update them with any new information
  • Attending all Crime Watch meetings
  • Implementing security measures suggested by your law enforcement officials
  • Properly identify all of your property using the guidelines suggested in Operation ID
  • Keeping an eye on your neighbor's homes and reporting any suspicious activities to your local Police or the Sheriff's Office as well as your neighbors
  • Teaching your children crime prevention and about respecting law enforcement
  • Not taking any risks to prevent crime or trying to make an arrest. It is more important to have a good witness
  • Testifying in court if you are a witness to a crime
  • When planning on leaving for any length of time, having the mail and newspapers picked up or stopped
  • Notifying your Block Captain and neighbors that you are going away so your home can be watched while you are gone