Neighborhood Watch Program Reaches Milestone
Community policing's cornerstone effort in Anderson Township, the Neighborhood Watch program, recently hit a significant milestone as the Watch Hill subdivision became the 100th Neighborhood Watch group here.
Started in 1972, the national Neighborhood Watch program is said to be one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in America, recruiting citizens to keep a trained eye on their own neighborhoods and communities. In Anderson, the program was revitalized starting in 2001, and now covers a significant portion of the township.
Cpl. Dave Boiman of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has headed up the local program since 2001. Over time, he said, communication between township residents and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has increased, thanks in part to the Neighborhood Watch efforts. Individuals involved in the program receive email updates about local suspicious activity, criminal activity and crime prevention tips. The local neighborhoods are urged to communicate about what's going on in the neighborhood and meet regularly.
Boiman said the Neighborhood Watches put more eyes and ears in the community, "which is helpful because crime has changed over the years." Having neighbors looking out for one another makes people more likely to report suspicious activity, scams and the criminal element, he noted. "I think there is a benefit to the township working together," Boiman said. "I think this milestone, the 100 groups, is great for our community. This would not have been possible without the support of our residents. It speaks highly of our residents and the kind of community we work and live in."
Another avenue of increased communication between residents and law enforcement is the township's new Nextdoor for Public Agencies program, a crime information sharing website that operates through a social media platform. "This effort also increases communication between our residents and law enforcement," Boiman said. Additionally, Nextdoor provides opportunities for disseminating emergency preparedness information, allows information exchange about topics of public interest and also valuable crime prevention tips. For Nextdoor information, go to: AndersonTownship.org, and search for "Nextdoor for Public Agencies."
For more information on the Neighborhood Watch Program click here.