Community Roll Call

Wauwatosa is a great city with an abundance of beautiful, safe and peaceful neighborhoods. In Wauwatosa’s neighborhoods we tend to practice the traditions that those of us born 35 plus years ago learned from our parents and neighbors as we were growing up; we get to know our neighbors. Getting to know them builds mutual respect. We are also more inclined to help out when we can and sometimes we even make life long friends. Getting to know our neighbors also lends itself to us being more conscious of our behavior and how it might impact those living around us.

Recently it has come to the attention of the Wauwatosa Police Department’s Community Support Division that some of our neighbors are, on occasion, forgetting how to be good, respectful neighbors. This little dilemma brings up two discussion points:

First, how should neighbors behave when living in a tight urban setting like Wauwatosa?

• If you should be out enjoying the night life and come home late at night, or early the next morning; please remember to turn off the music in your car and all conversation should be held in a whisper.

• When talking outdoors remember there may be young ears tuned in, please use appropriate language.

• Pets should not be allowed outside unattended. Noisy pets need to be trained; the excessive pet noise ordinance is enforceable 24 hours a day.

• When walking your dog, you must have some means to pick up the dog’s waste on your person. And, you must pick up any dog waste.

• When returning home from work or errands in your vehicle and traveling on residential streets, turn your music down and become more aware of the fact that children may run out into the street after errant balls or other toys.

Second, how do we handle the situation if our neighbors are not being good neighbors?

• Talk to them, if you are not comfortable going alone take another neighbor along.

• Be courteous and diplomatic when explaining your concerns.

• If after attempting to resolve the issue with them the problem persists; then you should contact the police the next time the nuisance or disturbance is taking place.