The Neighborhood Watch Program was started in 1972 in response to an increase in residential criminal activity. It is meant to be a preventative measure that encourages the citizens of a community to learn best practices from local law enforcement and other agencies focused on community safety.
Neighborhood Watches positively impact neighborhoods in many different ways. Along with fostering a sense of community and strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the citizens they protect, Neighborhood Watches help develop a method of communication between neighbors which aids in the ability to tell when something in the area is suspicious. This also serves as a catalyst to get that information out to everyone in the area quickly and efficiently. In areas where the members enjoy physical meetings, that time can be used to invite various speakers to come and offer education on topics of interest. Neighborhood Watches can be tailored to your specific needs in everything from how you communicate, to the topics you chose to learn about.
Over the past two years, several Neighborhood Watches have been born in Webster County. One Fort Dodge resident commented that, because of her Neighborhood Watch, she no longer worries about packages left on her doorstep. She knows that she can rely on a neighbor to pick it up for her if she will be away from her home for an extended amount of time. We highly encourage you to visit our Neighborhood Watch Page for more information and to take the next steps to starting one in your area!
www.safecommunitiesfdwc.org/neighborhood-watch
