Greenville, Mississippi, the Neighborhood watch program got a reboot in Jan.
Instead of trying to start a new program, because as Chief Marcus Turner said; “This program has been around for a long time, it had lost traction when COVID shut everything down, but without a doubt, the Neighborhood Watch works.”
Pastor Frank Hall, said, Myself and some of the other pastors involved in the Community Crime Meeting that was held Jan. 23, 2024, at the Washington County Convention Center, were integral in the reboot, we had met with Chief Marcus Turner several times near the end of 2023, in relation to those tragic shooting that took place around Oct. through Dec. trying to get the ball rolling again.” Hall said, “The program did stall because of COVID but the Sargent overseeing the program, was the officer that shot and killed her husband, and losing her from the program is what really killed it, she was on top of the Neighborhood watch program, she would show up any time someone called or was interested in helping.”
The Greenville Police department’s website lists the program’s benefits and success rate and says, “The Neighborhood Watch works to educate the participants on the principles of deterrence, delay, and detection.
The program depends on a communication network organized with three levels of participation.
The residents as Block Captains and Coordinates.
A local law enforcement representative.
The police as partners in enforcement using information from this network to prevent crime.
To start a Neighborhood watch in your area visit your neighbors and tell them you are interested in discouraging crime in your neighborhood.
Ask for their help in working toward this goal.
Organize a neighborhood meeting. Contact your local police representative to address the group and answer their questions.
The Greenville Police Department requires a majority of the people in a neighborhood to participate in the program in order to qualify as a Neighborhood Watch.
If the group decides to organize a Neighborhood Watch, block captains and coordinates should be selected.
Block captains should prepare a watch or zone map, listing names, addresses, telephone numbers, license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions for each residence on their block. Copies should be distributed to each participating household.
The Greenville Police Department has crime prevention officers available to perform security surveys on each residence in the program.
Once the police department’s requirements are met, Neighborhood Watch signs may be erected by the City at selected locations.
Burglary is a serious crime to which we are all vulnerable. It is, however, one of the most preventable crimes.
A few simple precautions will greatly reduce the possibility that you will become a victim of this crime.
Follow these guidelines to help prevent crime in your home:
Make your home look occupied at all times.
Leave interior lights on when you go out for the night and utilize exterior lighting or motion sensitive outdoor lighting.
Lock your outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed.
Do not allow daily deliveries, such as mail and newspaper, to accumulate.”
The GPD says, “If you are gone, have a neighbor pick up these items for you and arrange to have your lawn cut in the summer.
You should maintain a detailed description, pictures and the serial numbers of all appliances, tools, radios, televisions, firearms, and other valuables you own.
Whenever possible, inscribe or label your valuables with your driver’s license number.
The Greenville Police Department offers programs that provide crime prevention techniques you may implement to help protect you and your home.
A Crime Prevention officer can also conduct a security check of your home or business to make sure it is safe.
Self-protection means knowing how to avoid being the victim of an attack or robbery by keeping alert for the unexpected and not taking unnecessary chances.
It also includes knowing what to do if you are a victim and acting with common sense and cooperating with authorities.
The Greenville Police Department has programs in place to help you protect yourself against crime.
Programs include precautions to take at home, precautions to take while walking or driving a car, sexual assault and robbery prevention, and various other topics of concern.
Programs are intended to help you evaluate a crime risk and provide you with skills and information to help reduce the possibility of crime occurring and what to do if you do become a victim.”
GPD says, “Statistic since the inception on July 4, 1988, for Crime Stoppers of Greenville-Washington County, a nonprofit organization with a civilian board of Directors, with the assistance of the Greenville Police Department and citizens in the community, has logged more than, 5797 Calls, resulting in 803 Felony Cases, 79 Homicides cases, and 579 Arrests.
Returning $569,192.39 in recovered property to its rightful owners.
While also removing $110,525.00 Narcotics, from the streets, and bringing $34,315.00 in forfeitures.
Other money received are $93,345.00 in awards.”
For more information about The Neighborhood Watch Program, home safety programs, personal safety programs, or to receive safety brochures at your home, contact the Greenville Police Department at (662) 378-1515 ext. 1271.
