Neighborhood Watch Program
What is a Neighborhood Watch?
The Neighborhood Watch program is organized and maintained by citizens to prevent crime. It is initiated by concerned neighbors with the assistance of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Neighborhood Associations sometimes serve as the primary recruiters, to ensure that the program is successful in their area.
Here's How it Works...
Each Neighborhood has a Neighborhood Watch Block Contact. Block Contacts are the program coordinators in your area, and are the points of contact for the Sheriff's Office. They take responsibility for recruiting and assisting Block Leaders. Block Leaders organize individual blocks or roads.
For a block to participate in a Neighborhood Watch, someone on that block must agree to serve as Block Leader, receive training from the Sheriff's Office and explain the program to their neighbors.
If the Neighborhood Watch program is being conducted on a large scale basis in the neighborhood, each of the participating neighbors are invited to an Area Wide Meeting. A Deputy Sheriff is there to offer crime prevention education and home security tips.
Each participant receives a Neighborhood Watch Sheet that shows a map of the block and lists participants names and phone numbers. This map makes it possible for participants to give Deputies specific address information when reporting criminal activity. Everyone also receives Neighborhood Watch window stickers for their homes.
If the group is small, the activities mentioned above might be conducted from a participants home.
What If I Don't Trust My Neighbors?
Unfortunately, many neighborhood residents do not know or trust one another. If you feel that your block could not participate because of a lack of trust, we still encourage you to maintain other aspects of crime prevention. Home security tips, installation of deadbolts and pins, engraving valuables, and keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood will still be valuable deterrents to crime.
The Neighborhood Watch Program is ideal, but if it is not possible, at least take a few preventative measures to try and protect yourself and your family from becoming crime victims.Interested? Please let us know!
Marion County Sheriff's OfficeCrime Prevention Unit(503) 588-7981crimeprevention@co.marion.or.us