Neighborhood Watch

Introduction

Every day, we encounter situations calling upon us to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement. Not only does Neighborhood Watch allow citizens to help in the fight against crime, it brings residents together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer. The Neighborhood Watch Program draws upon the compassion of average citizens, asking them to lend their neighbors a hand.
Visible signs of the program are seen throughout America on street signs, window decals, community block parties and service projects. Call us to get started!

When you become a National Neighborhood Watch member you will receive an Action Pack that has great information on building a watch group, meetings, and much more. If you would like to receive notifications of crimes in Gallatin please register here or join our online forum to discuss issues important to you.

Start a Watch Group in Five Easy Steps

  1. Recruit and Organize as Many Neighbors as Possible

    It is wonderful that you are taking the steps to start a Neighborhood Watch group in your neighborhood. The first step is talking to your fellow neighbors about starting a group.
  2. Contact Your Local Law Enforcement Agency to Schedule a Meeting

    The next step is contacting your local law enforcement agency. Invite them to meet with your group at a time and place convenient for your Watch Group. It is essential for your group to work in collaboration with law enforcement because Neighborhood Watch is a cooperative effort.
  3. Discuss Community Concerns and Develop an Action Plan

    If law enforcement is unavailable to come to the first meeting you might want to have a meeting to discuss the concerns and issues in the neighborhood. Your group should create a plan on how to work towards lessening the impact of the top three concerns of neighbors.
  4. Create a Communication Plan

    It is important to decide what type of communication will work for your watch group - meetings or social media or both.
  5. Take Action: Hold Meetings and Events

    Neighborhood Watch Toolkit has a number of wonderful training topics and meeting ideas that can be useful to your group.

Article: Strategies to Engage the Community

Special thanks to the National Crime Prevention Council.