The current American system of Neighborhood Watches began developing in the late 1960s as a response to the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York.  Local groups were formed to watch over their neighborhoods and to look out for any suspicious activity in their areas. There was no formalized program until 1972 when the National Sheriffs' Association took the watch group effort nationwide. The City of Fond du Lac has had a neighborhood watch program in effect since the mid 80’s. The roots of the Neighborhood Watch program go back to the town watch from Colonial America.

Neighborhood watch (also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch or, in our case, Fond du Lac Watches) is a citizens' organization devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood.  It is not a vigilante organization since members are

expected not to directly intervene in possible criminal activity.  Instead, neighborhood watch members are to stay alert to unusual activity and contact the authorities.

Philosophy and Goals

Participants in a Neighborhood Watch learn:

To be familiar with neighbors and activities on their block.

To recognize and report suspicious activity.

To increase home security.

To engrave personal property (Operation Identification).

To communicate with neighbors on a regular basis using block maps, department newsletter, gatherings, e-mails, etc.

The goals of the Neighborhood Watch are two-fold:

To reduce the level of fear of crime in our neighborhoods.

To encourage citizens to accept the responsibility to improve neighborhood living conditions and reduce crime in our neighborhoods.

In the Fond du Lac community, there are approximately sixty (60) different Neighborhood Watch groups registered with the Fond du Lac Police Department.  Some groups are active, most are not.  Our number one goal is to get these groups active; number two is to increase the number of groups.  Historically, these groups would receive quarterly newsletters from the Police Department that

contained safety and prevention tips.

In the past, a number of groups have hosted block parties as a get-to-know-your-neighbor type of event.  The number of parties has dwindled.  We make every attempt to have an officer stop and visit during these parties.  The attending officer talks about crime prevention and problem-solving strategies that neighbors might use in their neighborhood.  Crime prevention brochures and problem-solving resource materials are also made available at that time.

The Fond du Lac Watches Program revitalizes all the Watch programs at the Police Department.  In the past we had Neighborhood Watch groups, a Marina Watch group, several Business Watch groups and a Fleet Watch program, each with a different logo and signage.  The goal of the "Fond du Lac Watches" Program is to put all the above-listed programs under one banner and reconnect with the citizens of the community.  In the very near future the present Neighborhood Watch signs will be refurbished and replaced with one similar to the above example.

The Community Services Unit has started the information gathering process that will be critical for the success of the new program. We will be contacting each watch group and its Block Captain to confirm their continued participation.  We will then make door-to-door contacts to gather names and e-mail information in order to create neighborhood e-mail groups.  Replacing the previous newsletter mailing with an e-mail format for those who have e-mail access will not only be quicker but also more cost effective. This same information will also be added to the Department’s newsletter group as an additional means of keeping them informed.

Once we have the database created, we will use it as follows: Assuming there are a string of vandalisms in the southeast part of our community, the community services unit would send out an e-mail to the affected watch group. That e-mail would contain information about those vandalisms such as what to look out for, what time(s) of day the vandalisms are occurring and who to call to report suspicious activity or file a complaint. We would also include safety tips on how to help prevent similar incidents happening to them.

Examples of monthly tips that would be sent to the groups:

• Get to know your neighbors.  Areas of low crime are areas where neighbors interact frequently.

• Keep an eye on the neighborhood children and ask your neighbors to keep an eye on yours.

• Join or start a Neighborhood Watch.

• If your neighbor is on vacation, make arrangements with him/her to have their mail and newspaper picked up.

• Keep each other alert and informed.  A neighbor's garage door left open, keys left in a car, someone snooping around homes with no apparent reason, a stranger stopping to talk to a child or senior citizen are all opportunities for a crime to happen.

• Visit a neighbor who has been a victim.  Be supportive and offer help with babysitting, getting to court or locating victim assistance services.

• Make sure neighborhood teens have positive places to go and constructive options to keep themselves occupied.

• Make sure your neighborhood is as crime proof as your home.  Notify police of any vandalism or suspicious activity or strangers lurking in alleys or on street corners.  Organize a campaign to clear debris and brush; large bushes can hide predators in parks and wooded areas.  Enlist teens and kids to help.  Report abandoned vehicles and broken street lights and repair broken windows.  Crime-attractive areas should be cleared of litter as well as mattresses, appliances and other large discarded items. Vacant and deteriorating houses and outbuildings attract vandals, gangs and the homeless.  Turn a vacant lot into a community garden or play area for kids.

The Forest Mall has recently joined Fond du Lac Watches, with Downtown Fond du Lac being next.  In addition to the Police Department’s Newsletter, they will receive safety and prevention tips, alerts related to state and national mall safety and security, and an avenue for the mall neighbors to have contact with one another.

Whether it’s a neighborhood, fleet, business, marina or a park, the goals and philosophy are the same – to recognize and report suspicious activity and to become familiar with your neighbors.

The Fond du Lac Watches program is coordinated through the Fond du Lac Police Department’s Community Services Unit.