The December 2, 2014 board meeting topic will be to inform neighbors:
- What is involved in a Crime Watch
- Determine who is willing to become a Block Captain
- Determine who will take the lead in developing and maintaining a Crime Watch in HMP
Crime Watch is a division of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) under the Department of Public Safety. Citizens participating in this program become more aware of crime prevention techniques that can help lower their risk of becoming victims. This program has proven to be one of the best ways to strength communities by helping neighbors to get to know each other, developing effective communication systems, and engaging neighbors in the process of reducing crime along with the fear of crime in their communities. This is done by taking a proactive approach against all criminal activities through communication, and the consistent cooperation of citizens, local government, and law enforcement.
The process to start or reactivate a Crime Watch group is simple. First you need to identify the target area for your Crime Watch group. A Block Club is the basic Crime Watch unit and usually consists of homes or buildings facing each other on both sides of a street in a block. If there are a good number of neighbors interested in the program, you could set a larger area, as a street or a whole sub-division, and divide it by blocks, streets, or areas, each one under a “Block Captain”. Check with the neighbors to determine their interest and identify the community’s issues and concerns. Whenever you and the other neighbors interested in establishing this program in your community are ready, IMPD will meet with your group to go over the basics of the Crime Watch Program: setting up a neighborhood communication network, basic home security tips, and reporting crime.
Later, a second meeting would be scheduled which will also include the presence of an IMPD Community Resources Officer who will be available to address any questions or concerns related to area crime trends, police work, and how they relate to Crime Watch. At this meeting IMPD would also expect to receive the roster of members of your Crime Watch group and the elected Block Club captain(s). After these requirements are fulfilled, IMPD will fill out a request for the Neighborhood Crime Watch signs which would be installed from 4 to 6 weeks after the date the request is submitted to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.