Neighborhood Watch ProgramMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch
DATE: December 16, 2010
The Police Department is conducting research and testing the willingness of
neighborhoods to be actively engaged in a Neighborhood Watch Program and is
expecting to have this research completed by the summer of 2011.
MCVM:Iw
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mark Dalsing, Chief of Police
Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director
Phyllis Russell, Management Intern
Safe Community Task Force
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
Dubuque
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AN-Anoka City
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Chief of Police Mark Dalsing has provided information on the process being used to
further explore the Safe Community Task Force recommendation to develop a
Neighborhood Watch Program.
The Police Department Community Policing philosophy and implementation of the
Territorial Accountability Design are consistent with the principles of citizen involvement
in crime prevention.
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
FR: Mark M. Dalsing
Chief of Police
RE: Neighborhood Watch
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum will detail the Dubuque Police Department's plan on developing a
neighborhood watch program.
BACKGROUND
E MEMORANDUM
DUBUQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT /NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH HISTORY
December 8, 2010
On July 19, 2010 the Safe Community Task Force submitted the second set of
recommendations to the Dubuque City Council. The Neighborhood Engagement and
Social Capital subcommittee recommended, "Develop a Neighborhood Watch
Program," as part of the recommendations. Since then the Dubuque Police Department
has been examining the implementation of such a program.
First we must recognize that National Neighborhood Watch is a registered, trademarked
organization with explicit rules and regulations on operations and procedures. For the
purposes of this memo, I will be referring to both the official National Neighborhood
Watch as well as neighborhood watch in the generic sense of the term.
The Dubuque Police Department was formerly associated with the official Neighborhood
Watch program in the late 70's and early 80's before changes in department needs and
decreased citizen involvement rendered the program inactive. Chief John Mauss (ret.)
resurrected the program after he was appointed Chief of Police in 1985. The program
experienced initial success but again citizen participation slowed and the program was
defunct by the early 90's. Corporal Terry Driscoll (ret.) was the Crime Prevention Officer
during the department's last association with the formal Neighborhood Watch program
and was recently contacted regarding the success and eventual end of the program.
Driscoll advised that the program was launched in target neighborhoods and eventually
became active in as many as 30+ neighborhoods throughout the City. Neighborhood
burglaries were a driving force for many neighborhoods becoming active. Driscoll
advised that part of the downfall of the program was keeping citizens interested and
engaged. By the requirements of the program, regular meetings and reports to the
Police Department were needed and theses slowed and eventually stopped. Other
contributing factors to the program's demise included: "Block Captains" and other active
citizens moved from the neighborhoods; citizens being unable to devote the necessary
time to the program; decreases in the crime or other activity that prompted the creation
of a Watch area; Toss of citizen interest. Driscoll noted that many neighborhoods went
through the initial training to get the official signs posted in their neighborhoods and then
active participation decreased almost immediately.
Beginning in 1995, the Dubuque Police Department started a Community Oriented
Policing unit. This unit took on many of the roles and assignments that formerly were
channeled through the Neighborhood Watch program. The COP officers serve as direct
departmental contacts for neighborhood associations, landlords and other concerned
citizens. The Department's use of Territory Accountability Design (TAD) has also
created another conduit for citizen - police contact as well as specific department
supervisor oversight and review of neighborhoods. The Department has to some degree
always maintained an unofficial neighborhood watch program.
Some of the City of Dubuque's other contributions include the annual multidepartment
led Crime -Free Multi- Housing training seminar, having a Neighborhood Development
Specialist, expanded Park & Recreation programming, the Washington Neighborhood
revitalization, the Multi- Cultural Family Center and dozens of other programs and
resources, which have all played important roles in fostering neighborhood watch
ideologies that are prevalent today.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The first step in the potential re- implementation of the program is to assess citizen
interest.
Beginning in January 2011, Dubuque Police Department personnel will start exploring
and attempting to gauge community interest. This assessment will begin with already
active neighborhood associations. Department representatives will present associations
with information on what is required to develop and maintain a successful program and
then assess the level of interest.
During this time we will also utilize our media outlets to encourage interested
neighborhoods to contact the Department to arrange a presentation. Again we will
determine interest levels, verify citizen commitment with regard to attending training
completing reporting and all other requirements as prescribed by the program.
By the spring of 2011 we should have a general idea of the community's interest in a
neighborhood watch program. If there is sufficient interest and commitment is evident,
we will then determine whether to align with the official National Neighborhood Watch
program or develop our own. One benefit of the official program is the amount of
,
available resources ranging from training materials to signs. A potential drawback to the
official program is the previously mentioned prescribed steps and requirements needed
to maintain a watch area and the subsequent failure of the program if the citizens do not
commit for the long term.
A second option is to develop our own program. The greatest benefit would be our
ability to cater the entire program specifically to Dubuque's history, current trends and
needs. One of the most significant drawbacks is that we wouldn't have the training
materials and signs available through the national program, thus creating a need to
develop and manufacture our own.
By the summer of 2011, if we have verified there is sufficient interest to resurrect this
program, we will have either created our own program or subscribed to the national
program; and begin the recruitment, training, and meeting needs in the neighborhoods.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY
The vast amount and availability of current technology might offer us several options as
well. The Internet's has connected millions of homes and the Department could have a
valuable tool at its disposal. Through the City's website, a separate website developed
for neighborhood watch, or through the use of already established private websites,
connecting with neighbors and citizens is just a few key strokes away. There are
already some websites established that allow groups to organize and communicate
through the sites. A more in depth review of these sites and what other cities are doing
will be part of the review process.
Social media will also be part of the review process. Programs like My Space, Twitter
and Facebook are used by millions of people each day. The department will explore
how these and similar programs could be used effectively for neighborhood
communication.
COSTS
Until we have an accurate assessment as to the level of interest within the community, it
is very difficult to do a detailed cost analysis.
If we subscribe to the national program, there are "starter kits" available which contain a
bare minimum of supplies. Some copying and other supplies could be done internally to
minimize costs but some supplies will inevitably need to come directly from the official
program. Depending on the size of the neighborhood and number of participating
residents, initial estimates would be $200 to $300 per program area.
If we develop our own program, all training materials and supplies would be created and
funded internally. City staff is able to create signage at a cost of approximately $25
each. A conservative estimate for a new watch area would be $100 to $200 each.
Given the nature of neighborhood watch programs, the Department's Crime Prevention
Officer and the Community Policing unit will play active roles in developing and
implementing the program. These officers would be active in the program during their
normal duty hours or through adjustments in work hours for specific program related
events. I also anticipate the need for additional staff assistance on occasion, depending
on the number and size of watch areas. Any additional staffing needs would initially be
funded through existing departmental funds.
ENGAGEMENT
Citizen involvement has been and will continue to be the deciding factor as to the
success of a program. While many programs start out successfully, they often see a
decline through citizen apathy or complacency. It will be an ongoing challenge for the
Department to keep the citizens engaged and involved.
As we develop the program we will explore options to promote and maintain citizen
involvement. Some options include recognition and reward systems where individual
watch areas are recognized for their efforts. Examples could include recognition for
100% membership in a neighborhood; Most Active Neighborhood (meetings and
training); or a variety of other possibilities, many of which the citizens could help create.
We could even create challenges between the watch areas. Rewards and recognition
could range from formal plaques or awards, media releases, City Council recognition, or
even City sponsored block parties.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
The Dubuque Police Department recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in
our ongoing crime prevention and response efforts. As part of the Safe Community
Task Force's recommendation and our ongoing efforts to promote community- oriented
policing & crime prevention, we will follow the aforementioned plan in potentially re-
implementing the neighborhood watch program. We believe this program to be quite
effective when properly implemented and maintained, and acknowledge its benefits
within community oriented policing and crime prevention programs.
ACTION REQUESTED
This is an informational memo only. No further action is requested.