Neighborhood Watch taking bite out of crime
To help
To organize a Neighborhood Watch or host an update meeting in your neighborhood, call Janesville Police Department Community Service Officer Kellie Morris at (608) 755-3077 or e-mail morrisk@ci.janesville.wi.us.
JANESVILLE — Door-to-door magazine sellers who might have scammed east side residents didn't get the chance in October because of Neighborhood Watch, a program that has grown to protect 154 city neighborhoods, police said.
A Neighborhood Watch coordinator concerned about magazine sales crews working the neighborhood notified officer Chad Sullivan, Janesville police crime prevention officer. They kept in contact through e-mails and phone calls.
"She relayed information, stories and incidents about the magazines sales people," which allowed the police department to get information to the media to warn Janesville residents, Sullivan said.
It's an example of how Neighborhood Watch can be effective, Sullivan said.
And Janesville police hope the hiring of Kellie Morris as civilian community service officer will convince more residents to establish Neighborhood Watch programs and make existing Neighborhood Watches more active.
"She will be doing a lot of the leg work, and I will be assisting," Sullivan said.
The city's first Neighborhood Watch started in March 1984 in the 900 block of Burnwyck Drive. Since then, 153 Neighborhood Watches have been established in the city.
The goal is to establish more programs to boost cooperation between police and residents, Sullivan said.
"Neighborhood Watch is very important, but we let it slip away a bit over the last two years. That's why the police department has made it a priority and can, now, with a full-time staff person," he said.
Morris, previously a clerk at the police department, is developing a database so neighbors can get e-mail alerts about crimes in their neighborhood.
"With the click of a button at no cost, we will be able to send out critical information," Sullivan said.
Morris will pull together meetings to get Neighborhood Watches organized and updated.
A spot on the city's Web site will be created for Neighborhood Watch, Sullivan said.
"We want to get information out to citizens that we have a Neighborhood Watch program and give them details on how to start a program and how to update a current program," he said.
"Citizens don't realize the importance of Neighborhood Watch and crime prevention," Sullivan said, "until they become a victim."
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
This is good news, particularly the involvement of Ofcr. Sullivan. His commitment to resident safety and problem follow-through was very evident during his tenure as Wilson School and Old Fourth Ward community liaison. Neighborhood Watch is important even if what you watch isn't much at all, because it creates a communications network that builds a stronger community.
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