NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Posted on RCHCANET by President Joe Rosenberg, 4/8/08
As many of you know, RCHCA has worked with other citizens groups to try to
combat crime, in particular, urging the county to establish a bait car
program. At our Annual Meeting in January, Adam Pagnucco of Forest Estates
Community Association spoke to us of this effort, and how joining with
several other citizens groups we have managed to get serious consideration
of county officials. Adam and I have since held separate meetings with two
County Council members to gain their support on this matter.
A few days ago, Adam has asked me if RCHCA wants to join with other citizens
groups again, this time in writing to our County Council urging them not to
discontinue funding for the Neighborhood Watch Program. In the letter,
shown below, Adam sites a recent case where neighbors in his association
witnessed a car theft and called the police leading to an arrest, something
that wouldn't have happened without involved residents.
My inclination is to sign this joint citizens group letter, but first I
wanted to ask our members what they think. By signing, we would be saying
that RCHCA either currently has Neighborhood Watch groups, or else is either
starting or considering to start such programs. I have seen signs for
Neighborhood Watch Programs in some of our neighborhoods but do not have a
sense whether or not they are active in any way.
I welcome responses to this email to indicate (a) whether I should sign this
joint citizen group letter based on at least some of our members being
involved or wishing to become involved in Neighborhood Watch Programs, and
(b) whether anyone wants to start such a program in his/her neighborhood,
and I will follow up with appropriate contacts.
More information on Neighborhood Watch Programs is contained via the link
below on the National Sheriffs Association website.
<http://www.usaonwatch.org/> http://www.usaonwatch.org/
The draft letter we are being asked to participate in by signing is shown
below. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my questions (a) and (b),
above.
Joe
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Dear Council Members:
We are writing to ask you to protect funding for the County's Neighborhood
Watch programs.
According to the attached article from the Gazette, the County Executive is
recommending that MCPD eliminate its support for Neighborhood Watch
programs. Under the proposal, the department's community service liaisons
would no longer train civic associations to implement watch programs and
would return to patrol. Officer Diane Tillery of the 6th District told the
Gazette, "If I go back to patrol, there's no more neighborhood watches.
That's it. We're the only ones trained for that. If anything, with the
economy the way it is, we need more eyes and ears out there, and not less."
The County Executive expects that the County will save $672,580 by
abolishing the services division, or 0.2% of the County's current budget
deficit.
The undersigned civic associations have, are starting or are considering
Neighborhood Watch programs. We believe an informed and vigilant citizenry
is necessary to supplement our police department's crime prevention efforts.
Just last week, residents of the Forest Estates neighborhood witnessed a car
theft in progress and called the police. The police chased the thieves to
Bethesda and caught them - an apprehension that would not have occurred were
it not for citizen action.
By drawing on alert citizen volunteers to tip off the police, Neighborhood
Watch programs can generate value to County residents far surpassing the
minimal support costs incurred by MCPD. On behalf of the combined XXX
households that we represent, we urge you to continue funding them.