Start Your Own Neighborhood Watch!

Taking A Bite Out Of Crime, One Block At A Time

Start your own Neighborhood Watch

Benefits of Neighborhood Watch

The benefits are many… beyond preventing crime and reducing fear, Neighborhood Watch (NW) builds pride, forges bonds among block residents - by really getting to know and look out for neighbors, improves citizen-police relations, and can address other block issues and concerns like child safety, youth development, senior citizen welfare, and quality-of-life.

Neighborhood Watch depends on citizen involvement to prevent and discourage crime. You're not asked to take personal risks, only to serve as extra “eyes and ears” and to report information on crimes and suspicious activities promptly.

Neighborhood Watch groups in your area

To locate a Wilkes East Neighborhood Watch group in your area, or to start a new group, contact neighborhood association members Lee Dayfield at leedayfield@wilkeseastna.org, or Kris Freiermuth at krisfreiermuth@wilkeseastna.org.

What is Neighborhood Watch?

The Neighborhood Watch Program is a highly successful effort that has been in existence for more than thirty years in cities and counties across America. It provides a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement and citizens to protect our communities.

Around the country, neighbors for three decades have banded together to create Neighborhood Watch programs. They understand that the active participation of neighborhood residents is a critical element in community safety - not through vigilantism, but simply through a willingness to look out for suspicious activity in their neighborhood, and report that activity to law enforcement and to each other. In doing so, residents take a major step toward reclaiming high-crime neighborhoods, as well as making people throughout a community feel more secure and less fearful.

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the need for strengthening and securing our communities has become even more critical, and Neighborhood Watch groups have taken on greater significance. In addition to serving a crime prevention role, Neighborhood Watch can also be used as the basis for bringing neighborhood residents together to focus on disaster preparedness as well as terrorism awareness; to focus on evacuation drills and exercises; and even to organize group training.

USAOnWatch was created by the National Sheriffs' Association, in conjunction with several well-known federal agencies, to advance this cause by encouraging the initiation and/or revitalization of Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the country. One of the oldest and best known crime prevention concepts in history, Neighborhood Watch was created to unite law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and individual citizens in a massive effort to reduce residential crime. USAOnWatch is used not only to promote NWs, but also record the number of NWs started.

Gresham's Neighborhood Watch Program

The City of Gresham and the Gresham Police Crime Prevention Department have put together and support an excellent Neighborhood Watch program for Gresham residents. Working together, Neighborhood Watch groups and the Gresham Police can make a difference. Do your part in reducing crime and improving the safety in our community. Join or start a Neighborhood Watch group in your area today!

How to organize a Neighborhood Watch

1. First ask your neighbors. Visit your neighbors and ask for their support and participation in forming a Gresham Neighborhood Watch. It is recommended a Neighborhood Watch be a maximum of 1-3 blocks.
2. Register your Neighborhood Watch. Download and completed this volunteer application, then contact the Gresham Police Department at 503-618-2546 to register for a "Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Packet." Every NW must have a Block Captain. You may also consider having a Co-Captain, or an assistant Block Captain.
3. Distribute invitations. Request your neighbors attend and participate in the next scheduled Neighborhood Watch (NW) training workshop. Gresham Police recommends all households, and residents in the proposed NW area be invited to attend the NW workshop training with the Block Captain.
4. Attend training workshop. The Neighborhood Watch workshop trains all participants on how to form their Watch, complete NW forms, prevent home burglary and ID theft. Everyone can also meet other Gresham residents starting up N/W's in their block areas.
5. Schedule your first meeting. After the training, schedule your first NW meeting and complete the forms presented at the workshop.
6. Install NW signs. Install neighborhood watch signs at the boundaries of your neighborhood watch area.

For information on how to start a Neighborhood Watch in Gresham, call Sylvia Milne, Crime Prevention Specialist, Gresham Police Department, at (503) 618-2824, or email sylvia.milne@ci.gresham.or.us.