Calling all concerned citizens. Do you have a Block Watch program in place on your block? If you do THANKS! If not, we here at the Wauwatosa Police Department need your help. We need your help in starting up a Block Watch program on your block and being a Block Watch Captain. At no cost to you and just a little effort, you and your neighbors can help reduce the opportunity for criminals to commit crimes in your neighborhood.
What is a Block Watch? It is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of citizens, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce residential crime. You may hear it call Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Home Alert or Citizen Crime Watch; but they are all the same idea with the same goals in mind.
What is a Block Watch Captain asked to do?
- We ask that you take a blank block watch map and go door to door, introduce yourself and the Block Watch Program to your neighbors and gather each household’s name, address and phone number. After you gather the information you will return it to the Wauwatosa Police Department’s Community Support Division. Once the information is entered into our database you will receive several type written copies for every neighbor’s record
- Either you or a Co-Capitan, (Co-Capitan is not a requirement), would be asked to host an introductory Block Watch Meeting in which one or two Community Policing Officers from the Wauwatosa Police Department would come and speak to everyone attending. At the meeting we will further explain the Block Watch Program and the Police Department’s expectations. We will also address any current crime trends as well as home and personal safety and will answer any questions posed by the participants. At this meeting Block Watch signs will be distributed to all participants. If no one wants to host a meeting, that meeting may be held here at the police department.
- Deliver our quarterly newsletter to the Block Watch participants on your block. We will deliver a package of newsletters to your home at the time of publishing. These newsletters are chock full of information that includes crime prevention tips, crime trends and upcoming community events.
That’s it, that’s all it takes! This is a proven program with proven ideals that can help in preventing crime in your neighborhood. A strong orgnainzed neighborhood will send the criminals to a neighborhood that is not as strong and organized.
Do you have further questions? Do you want to get a Block Watch started? Do you want to revitalize a current Block Watch? Then call the Wauwatosa Police Department at 414-471-8430 and ask to speak to someone in Community Support!
