SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH By Fay Wood, NW Chief Many new residents and others have wondered how Lake Ashton’s total inclusive (Lake Wales & Winter Haven) NW Program has become so well known and successful for so many years. It’s really very simple: the program was designed after much research and team building. It included ALL residents, ALL Leadership groups (CDDs, HOAs, Management Teams, other safety conscious groups (Security Guards, Citizen Assisted Patrols, CERTS; Crime Stoppers, Ham Radio Operators) and other stakeholders in Lake Ashton and in Law Enforcement. NW has received public accolades from The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Wales and Winter Haven Police Departments, along with the Mayors and City Commissioners. As your proud NW Chief I want to thank ALL for your teamwork and support of our entire Lake Ashton Community family. It is because of ALL OF YOU that Neighborhood Watch remains the success that it is today with more exciting programs to come. Happy & Healthy New Year to ALL! Facts About National Neighborhood Watch Neighborhood Watch is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most well-known crime prevention programs in history. While the modern day concept of this program rose to prominence in the late 1960s in response to an increasing burglary rate, the roots of Neighborhood Watch can actually be traced all the way back to the days of Colonial settlements, when night watchmen patrolled the streets. The modern version of the Neighborhood Watch - USAonWatch Program was developed as a result of the multiple requests from sheriffs and police chiefs around the country who were looking for a crime prevention program that would incorporate citizen involvement and address the increasing number of burglaries taking place, especially in rural and suburban areas. In 1972, the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) took the concept a step further by seeking funding to make the program a national initiative. Thanks to a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, the National Neighborhood Watch Program was started. For the first two years, the program was devoted primarily to disseminating information on the nature and volume of burglary and securing residential property and making it less vulnerable to break-ins. From there, it evolved into a program that promoted the establishment of ongoing local Neighborhood Watch groups that encouraged citizens to partner with their law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce various types of "neighborhood crime.” Since its beginnings, Neighborhood Watch has grown from an "extra eyes and ears" approach to crime prevention to a much more proactive, community-oriented endeavor providing a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement, and citizens for the protection of their communities. Today's Watch Group programs incorporate activities that not only address crime prevention issues, but also restore pride and unity to a neighborhood. It is not uncommon to see members of Neighborhood Watch groups participating in community cleanups and other group activities that strive to improve the quality of life and safety ideas for community residents. In addition, the adoption of community policing by local law enforcement agencies has contributed to a resurgence in Watch groups over the years. Neighborhood Watch fits nicely into the framework of law enforcement/community partnerships, and Neighborhood Watch meetings provide a useful forum for airing neighborhood problems and practicing problem-solving techniques. While criminals have attempted to use this statistic to their advantage, law enforcement has uncovered an important reality: the communities in which citizens have observed and reported suspicious activity have enjoyed lower crime rates. As communities throughout the country have adopted the program and reported success, the popularity of the Neighborhood Watch Program has grown, and it continues to be the pride of Law Enforcement.
19 Publizr Home