and Why Should I Get Involved?

What is a Neighborhood Watch— and Why Should I Get Involved?

BY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS STEPHANIE STROM (POSITION 2) & JILL CLARK FULMER (POSITION 4)

Neighborhood Watch is about more than crime. Although crime prevention is arguably the most common benefit, Neighborhood Watch is about living in neighborhoods where we look out for each other.

We are lucky to have a low crime rate in Snohomish, and we’d all like to keep it safe and friendly. When pockets of criminal activity threaten our sense of safety, a Neighborhood Watch empowers residents to compare notes and feel comfortable engaging with local law enforcement to address collective concerns.

Today, establishing more independent Neighborhood Watches is important to both City Council and the Snohomish Police Department, because they make a very real difference in fostering community.

And it works: the Morgantown neighborhood of Snohomish generated 114 calls to 911 dispatchers over a 9-month span. Six years after launching their Neighborhood Watch, they saw a 96 percent decrease in these calls.

An established Neighborhood Watch creates caring neighborhoods that function well in both large and small emergencies.

Neighborhood Watch isn’t just about preventing crime. We wave to our neighbors all the time, but may never know how to reach them in an emergency. By forming an official Watch, you’ve declared your willingness to manage a centralized contact list and look out for each other. It’s the first step in building a hyper-local community you can rely on.

Consider the recent wildfire in our neighboring community of Index. If we have a similarly serious situation, those in a Neighborhood Watch can help determine who may need help — or be able to help.

What’s the commitment?

There are two easy steps: 1. Sign up: Simply meeting your neighbors at an informal kickoff event helps you feel comfortable reaching out to them when you think they might need help. 2.Stay engaged with occasional communication: This will look different for each Watch group, depending on what it decides. It might include:

Engaging in designated communication channels, such as email or private Facebook groups.

If you’re not a regular technology user, don’t let this dissuade you — you can ask your block captain to keep you informed.

Your level of engagement is up to you, as long as you’re reachable.

Get-togethers: informal meetings, police-led safety seminars, BBQs — whatever works for your individual group!

How Will I Know What To Do?

The Public Safety Commission has created a launch kit to help you consider your own neighborhood’s needs for your unique Watch. This kit contains invitation templates and training materials, including this decision tree: • If something seems out of the ordinary and you think your fellow

Watch member might want to know, call your neighbor directly. • If you see suspicious activity, such as someone looking in windows or walking around a house, call the

Snohomish PD non-emergency line (425-407-3999) and describe the situation. • If you witness an active crime or think someone is in danger, call 911 immediately. • In doubt about what to do? Call the

SPD non-emergency line and ask to speak to a deputy.

As you get started, you can always rely on the educational support of Snohomish Police Department Administrative Sergeant Chris Veentjer, who can join your meetings and share resources.

How Do I Get Started?

To learn more, go to: snohomishwa. gov/Neighborhoods.