The Seaside Police Department is dedicated to keeping our community safe. We are providing the following information as a way of showing what each citizen can do to help combat crime. These are things that every citizen can do to help keep themselves from falling victim to crime.
Keeping your community safe with a Neighborhood Watch Program
What can you do? If you or someone you know; are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, the local police department should be contacted. Speak to the Community Liaison Officer.
The CLO should be invited to your informal gathering in order to speak with residents from the neighborhood and explain what a Neighborhood Watch Program is about. It is encouraged that you invite as many residents from the neighborhood as possible.
If you are interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch Program the following are some initial steps to consider.
Get to know your neighbors.
What cars belong to their homes?
Do they work during the day or the night?
If your neighbor go’s on vacation where can they be reached in case of an emergency?
Who is allowed to be at the house when they are gone?
Are they leaving a spare key with a friend, neighbor or a relative?
Will someone be checking their home when they are gone?
The Committee:
A committee should be formed in order to help establish who will become the Coordinator, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Master at Arms, and the Block Captains and Co Captains.
The Coordinator:
Electing a Neighborhood Watch Program Coordinator is important for the success of the program. The person assigned to this position should be an individual that can keep a close watch of the neighborhood since most of their time would be spent at home, because they currently work from home or are retired.
The coordinator(s) responsibility is to coordinate with new members. He/she is also responsible for any participants or residents from the neighborhood. Responsibilities include; obtaining the names, phone numbers, addresses, and any additional information. The coordinator is also responsible for keeping in contact with members of the program, law enforcement officers and officials, and city government officials.
Electing a Board:
Electing a President, a Vice President, Secretary, Treasure, and Master at Arms is essential in forming a Neighborhood Watch Program if the program elects to become a nonprofit organization. Having a program with a structure within the organization; helps in the making of any and all decisions.
The Block Captain:
The Block Captain will be responsible for maintaining contact with the seven to ten households that are in his or her group. The Block Captain will act as the coordinator between the group and the Coordinator. They will be responsible for maintaining an up to date name roster, phone roster, address roster and any other pertinent information. The information obtained by the Block Captain will be disseminated to all the members of the Neighborhood Watch Program participant. The information should also be forwarded to the local police and fire departments.
Block Captains Co-Captains:
Block Captains Co-Captains can be one or two individuals that can assist and help in any way with the duties of the Block Captain when he or she is not available. The responsibility of the Co-Captains is to pass on any information to and from the residents.
One important thing to remember is that you must get to know your neighbors and the residents in your area. Knowing the people that live around you gives you an advantage in determining who belongs in or around the neighborhood.
Examples of activities for a Neighborhood Watch Program:
Distribution of crime prevention and safety literature
Host neighborhood cleanups, meetings or BBQ’s
Encourage new neighbors to be part of the neighborhood watch
Arrange for a safe location that someone can go to in case of an emergency
Place Neighborhood Watch decals or signs in the neighborhood
Contact law enforcement with any issues or concerns you have
Report any and all suspicious activity in the neighborhood
Walk around your neighborhood (it is yours not the outsiders)
Use the parks around your neighborhood (they belong to your neighborhood not the criminals)
Become involved in your community
A final thought:
We may never be able to predict when crime will occur. It can be an everyday occurrence or months can go by without any crime or incidents. One thing can be for certain, is that our level of activity as a community can greatly influence the amount of and the level of crime that may occur. An active Neighborhood Watch Program and an active community can be a great tool in possibly deterring and preventing crime.
For further information please contact the Seaside Police Department Community Liaison Officer P. Perez at 831-899-6865 or by email at Pperez@ci.seaside.ca.us