Neighborhood Watch programs offer extra eyes

SANDPOINT — An extra set of eyes is never a bad thing.

With its Community Force program, the Bonner County Sheriff's Office gains entire neighborhoods full of folks helping them keep the community safe.

"Back in the day before cell phones, GPS tracking and the like, if you were like me, as a kid, I would spend my Saturdays roaming around the neighborhood from my school to the park to the open woods and gulley down the street," Craig Nelson, a volunteer with the BCSO's Neighborhood Watch Program. "My mom never seemed to worry because she would be updated as to my location by neighbors in the community that would call her up on the phone to say, 'Do you know where your son is?'"

The national program can be traced to 1972 when the National Sheriffs’ Association launch the program with the help of a Law Enforcement Assistance Administration grant. The goal was to bring law enforcement and citizens closer together in an effort to improve public safety. 

While other programs have existed in Bonner County in the past, Nelson said that the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of volunteers, created its Community Force Program in 2015 to further build the connection between law enforcement and their communities. 

"The goal of the program is to unite and educate citizens about what they can do to deter crime and have safer neighborhoods," Nelson said. "By connecting neighbors, watch groups have been able to improve the quality of life and at the same time restore pride in their neighborhood."

Some may already have seen the signs in their neighborhood or when visiting a friend. The signs are a visual representation that that community's residents have created a basic crime prevention program by practicing crime safety measurements and encouraging others to join in those efforts. 

In addition, Nelson said that watch group members actively work to help others when they become aware of a victim of a crime and work for a better and safer neighborhood through protecting and honoring the rights of others.

Through the program, residents help law enforcement agencies identify problem areas and learn how to respond when they see suspicious activity. The program teaches how to provide more accurate information such as the vehicle license plate number, make model and color of the vehicle and what the suspect was wearing among other valuable information.

"Along with providing you an opportunity to get to know your law enforcement personnel on a more personal and professional level your neighborhood will become more aware of criminal activity in your area in the way of drug activity, wanted persons, stolen vehicles, thefts, and the like," Nelson said. "You also have an opportunity to share suspicious activity with other community watch groups so they can be alerted to such issues as mail theft, suspicious vehicles or persons in the area."

Most importantly, Nelson said the program helps residents build a strong community as they get to know their neighbors.

"Watch groups give community members a reason to get together and talk about making their community a better place," he added. "Such programs reduce rumors on what is going on and reinforce the actual truth of what is happening in your community."

By creating an organized community, Nelson said neighborhood watch programs let criminals know they are being watched and that any and all suspicious circumstances will be reported to law enforcement.

Those interested in learning more about how the Neighborhood Watch Program works or how to start a program in their neighborhood should contact the Sheryl Messer at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office at 208-263-4578.