This post is Part 2 of our Saving Wyoming Series.
The primary purpose of a neighborhood watch group is to have multiple neighbors alert, and willing to communicate with each other, for potential crimes or threats in their mutual neighborhood.
The primary reason we are suggesting that Wyomingites consider starting up a neighborhood watch group is because of the escalating violence and crimes that our nation is experiencing, and how those crimes are expanding into the suburbs and rural areas.
If you are considering increasing the awareness in your neighborhood through a watch group, it is up to you to consider and thoroughly research what route you want to take and who you will need to contact – whether it is your local sheriff’s office, a national group or just a handful of neighbors that you already know. Below are a few brief descriptions – starting with a small simple group and ending with more involved national organizations.
1) Create your own small unofficial watch group
Draft a very simple plan with basic ground rules ahead of time before you initiate a conversation with your neighbors.
- With a few neighbors that you already know and trust. This could be neighbors who simply live on your block. Your plan can be the mutual sharing of phone numbers with a small group of neighbors who agree to contact each other if anyone sees something potentially threatening or suspicious in your neighborhood. Basic ground rules can be that watch group communications will only be for potential crimes (such as a person looking through peoples cars), threats (such as seeing smoke coming from a property or a mountain lion in your yard) or emergencies (such as a child missing or a car accident).
- With a larger number of neighbors that you invite to a meeting. This could be neighbors that live within a few blocks of your home. You can consider inviting all neighbors within a few blocks, 20 people or less, or whatever you think is best. Keep in mind that no matter how many people you invite, you will probably only get a fraction of who are interested and will show up. Suggestion: If you are considering inviting only 20 neighbors or less you can narrow your choices of who you will invite based on certain criteria. For example, neighbors who live on corners, at busy intersections, or near a park. You can also consider neighbors that have similar interests, such as households with children, or households that have a U.S. flag.
The plan and ground rules can begin with the same as the first choice above, and then be expanded upon based on whatever your group decides together. It might be wise to have a simple map of your neighborhood for meetings with larger groups.
Once you have a small watch group organized, you might consider notifying your local police or sheriff’s department of your neighborhood watch effort.
2) Neighborhood Groups using social media and or apps
Here are some noteworthy articles to consider before exploring the following options: Neighborhood security apps are making us wildly paranoid; Neighborhood Watch Program Explained & It’s Pros and Cons; Ring and Nest helped normalize American surveillance and turned us into a nation of voyeurs; This App Tracks Crime, Emergencies Near You. But What About Privacy?
- Nextdoor
- Nextdoor for Public Agencies
- Nabor
- Facebook – there are many private groups already created and doing this on Facebook. If you are comfortable using social meeting for this purpose, you might find there is already a group organized for your area.
3) National Organizations
- National Neighborhood Watch is a division of the National Sheriffs Association. These are the neighborhoods that have the recognizable Neighborhood Watch signs. Each watch group requires at least one volunteer coordinator and provides training for participating residents. Here is a wiki-how for setting up a Neighborhood Watch group, and here is a video – How To Start A Neighborhood Watch. In contrast, here is a video by a young man who opposes Neighborhood Watch; he brings up certain privacy points that are worth considering.
- National Crime Prevention Council. This organization, known for its McGruff dog character (“take a bite out of crime”), does not offer a neighborhood watch program per se, but does have other programs that families might want to learn more about.
Note that if you choose to initiate a group through #3 above you are potentially opening your effort up to government agencies that might want to expand their reach into your neighborhood with other programs that you might not be necessarily interested in – for example organized community clean-up and revitalization efforts (such as “Weed and Seed”), video-sharing of private security surveillance systems, etc . We’re not saying that you shouldn’t consider these programs, but we are pointing out that your effort could potentially be coopted by well-meaning community leaders who might want more from you than you are prepared to give – which could ultimately lead to you voluntarily giving up a certain amount of your time, labor and/or privacy.
Additionally, you should also consider how much your neighborhood group might ask or expect of you, or, on the flip side, if a member of your group might take things to a higher level than what your group agrees to. It should be pointed out that George Zimmerman, known for shooting Trayvon Martin in Feb 2012 in Sanford, Florida, was allegedly acting in the capacity as a neighborhood watch volunteer for a homeowners association (HOA). According to this article, it appears that Zimmerman chose to conduct armed surveillance on his own, even though it was ultimately the HOA that settled the wrongful death lawsuit. As extreme and unfortunate as the situation was, and later escalated to with riots, it initially began as a HOA neighborhood watch group. This article addresses the liability risks of neighborhood watch groups for associations.
Lastly, regardless of what option you decide is best, you should be selective and discerning about who you choose to invite into your watch group, or invite into your home for meetings. Even though your intentions are good, you are reaching out to some people that are still basically strangers to you and your family. Take it slow and build trust with neighbors that earn it over time. The ultimate goal is to have a safe neighborhood that is built upon neighbors looking out for neighbors.
