Neighborhood Watch Program_Safe Community Task Force RecommendationMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch Program -Safe Community Task Force
Recommendation
DATE: November 14, 2011
Dubuque
,id
All-AmmtcaClty
2007
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.
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 steadily decreases and the
program was defunct by the early 90's.
Beginning in 1995, the Dubuque Police Department started a Community Oriented
Policing Unit. This unit took on many of the roles and assignments that were formerly
channeled through the Neighborhood Watch Program. The COP officers serve as direct
departmental contacts for neighborhood associations, landlords, civic groups /programs
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. Additionally, the Crime
Prevention Unit, in close partnership with the COP Unit, has become increasingly active
promoting safety and crime reduction to the groups previously mentioned, as well as
area businesses, churches, schools, etc. In this sense, the Department has, to some
degree, always maintained an unofficial neighborhood watch program through these
venues. The concepts and principals that make the official Neighborhood Watch
Program successful and beneficial are still apparent and strongly promoted through this
collaborative effort and the ongoing programs supported and /or developed by the police
department and citizens.
Some of the City of Dubuque's other related initiatives since the mid- 1990's include the
annual multidepartment led Crime -Free Multi- Housing training seminar (now held 3
times per year), having a Neighborhood Development Specialist position in the City
Manager's Office and the support of several neighborhood associations, expanded Park
& Recreation programming, the Washington Neighborhood revitalization strategy, the
creation of 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.
Beginning in January 2011, Dubuque Police Department personnel started exploring
and attempting to gauge community interest in restarting the Neighborhood Watch
Program. In spite of numerous attempts to solicit input, the community has shown little
interest.
The Dubuque Police Department recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in
our ongoing crime prevention and response efforts and appreciates the Safe
Community Task Force recommendation to increase engagement between law
enforcement and citizens /neighborhoods through the re- implementation of the
Neighborhood Watch Program. However, many of the principals and practices are
already in place in Dubuque. There does not appear to be sufficient interest and
commitment among Dubuque citizens to warrant the significant investment of time,
money and personnel required to successfully re- implement the official Neighborhood
Watch Program for the long term. Citizens, for the most part, seem to feel they already
have a successful program in place and see no need to duplicate effort, but remain
open to suggested improvements to their existing associations /programs.
Chief of Police Mark Dalsing is not recommending re- implementation of the official
Neighborhood Watch Program, however, he does recommend exploring, discussing,
and possibly implementing enhancements to the current neighborhood associations,
making an already successful program even better. What few Neighborhood Watch
principles and concepts that haven't already been adopted /practiced by the
associations, could be considered for implementation — to include the design and
development of neighborhood- specific watch signs, decals and other materials and
taking advantage of new web -based programs and social media.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
IR/1144 ',,,,,A14,-,
Michael C. Van Milligen
2
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mark M. Da!sing, Chief of Police
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
Safe Community Advisory Committee
Safe Community Task Force
NovusAGENDA - Home
Novus
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen
City Manager
FROM: Mark Dalsing
Chief of Police
DATE: November 10, 2011
SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch Program
INTRODUCTION
Page 1 of 1
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Dubuque
M- Amerlca c*y
'1111'
2007
This item will detail the Dubuque Police Departments efforts to assess interest and commitment
levels regarding the implementation of a neighborhood watch program.
BACKGROUND
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.
DISCUSSION
See attached staff memo.
RECOMMENDATION
See attached staff memo.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Informational only. No Action requested.
Prepared by:
Mark Dalsing
Novusolutions
Copyright 2001 -2011
http: / /agenda.novus. cityofdubuque. org/ ItemDetails /ClientApprovalSheet. aspx ?ItemID =194 11/17/2011
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MEMORANDUM
October 4, 2010
TO: Mark M. Dalsing
Chief of Police
FR: Lt. Scott Baxter
Crime Prevention & Public Information Officer
RE: Neighborhood Watch Program
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum will detail the Dubuque Police Department's efforts to assess
interest and commitment levels regarding the implementation of a neighborhood watch
program.
BACKGROUND
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.
DUBUQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT /NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH HISTORY
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 steadily decreases 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 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
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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
again, these steadily decreased and eventually ceased all together. 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; and loss of citizen interest. Driscoll noted 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 were formerly
channeled through the Neighborhood Watch Program. The COP officers serve as direct
departmental contacts for neighborhood associations, landlords, civic groups /programs
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. Additionally, the Crime
Prevention Unit, in close partnership with the COP Unit, has become increasingly active
promoting safety and crime reduction to the groups previously mentioned, as well as
area businesses, churches, schools, etc. In this sense, the Department has, to some
degree, always maintained an unofficial neighborhood watch program through these
venues. The concepts and principals that make the official Neighborhood Watch
Program successful and beneficial are still apparent and strongly promoted through this
collaborative effort and the ongoing programs supported and /or developed by the police
department and citizens.
Some of the City of Dubuque's other contributions include the annual multidepartment
led Crime -Free Multi- Housing training seminar (now held 3 times per year), 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 — ASSESSING INTEREST, NEED & COMMITMENT
The first step in the potential re- implementation of the program was to assess citizen
interest.
Beginning in January 2011, Dubuque Police Department personnel started exploring
and attempting to gauge community interest. In February, I participated in a Mediacom
Newsleader session and discussed the program during an interview that was broadcast
to Mediacom subscribers. During the interview, we discussed the program's history
(both locally and nationally), as well as the benefits, requirements and possibility of re-
implementation locally.
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Later in the spring (May 18th, 2011), I presented to the leaders of our area
Neighborhood Associations during one of their group meetings at Comiskey Park.
Representatives from all the associations were provided with informational materials
including a presentation detailing the program. I asked that the attendees take the
information from the presentation and handouts, and share it with members of their
respective associations (and anyone else they deemed applicable) in an effort to
determine a need, desire and commitment for reimplementation of the program - or a
close, more personalized Dubuque- version of the program. The prospect of
resurrecting the program was also addressed in several other presentations conducted
throughout the community in the last several months when crime prevention and /or
personal safety were the main focus.
A few months later, a follow -up e-mail was sent to the attendees of the above
mentioned Neighborhood Association group meeting. Basically, the e-mail reminded
the attendees of the May meeting, of our ongoing effort to assess interest in the
program, and what is required for the program to be successful. Having heard very little
in terms of interest from the majority, I also suggested the possibility of modifying the
current Neighborhood Associations into a Dubuque- specific model of Neighborhood
Watch (also discussed during our initial meeting). Much like this initial interest
assessment, it seems logical to start with the various associations if the program (or any
variation) is to be attempted. Since they already embrace and practice some of the
principles and recommendations of the official program, exploring the possibility of
merging the Neighborhood Watch Program into the existing associations was again
offered as a potential option. Whatever modifications deemed advantageous to the
majority could be adopted and implemented into this Dubuque- specific approach.
During the initial meeting, most attendees agreed that IF we were to re- implement the
program, we should develop our own "Dubuque- specific" version — allowing the groups
to cater a program that is most beneficial to their association /neighborhood and the
issues /problems being experienced therein. I received one response from an individual
who said he would take the information /suggestions back to his association for further
discussion.
Further publicity efforts were also made by posting information on the City's website and
encouraging interested citizens to contact me with questions or more information.
Again, this effort yielded virtually no response.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
The Dubuque Police Department recognizes the importance of citizen involvement in
our ongoing crime prevention and response efforts. As part of our ongoing efforts to
promote community- oriented policing & crime prevention, we appreciate the
Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital subcommittee's recommendation to
increase engagement between law enforcement and citizens /neighborhoods through
the re- implementation of this program. And while we believe this program to be quite
effective when properly implemented and maintained, and acknowledge its benefits
3
within community oriented policing and crime prevention programs, many of the
principals and practices are already in place as illustrated above. Further concern
exists as there does not appear to be sufficient interest and commitment among our
citizens to warrant the significant investment of time, money, personnel, etc. required to
successfully re- implement the official Neighborhood Watch Program for the long term. I
think our citizens, for the most part, feel they already have a successful program in
place and see no need to duplicate effort, but remain open to suggested improvements
to their existing associations /programs.
That being said, there may be value in exploring the enhancement of the existing
neighborhood associations. With new web -based programs, social media (and other
advancements in communication) — coupled with the already strong foundation
established by these associations, it remains a viable option worthy of further
exploration. What few Neighborhood Watch principles and concepts that haven't
already been adopted /practiced by the associations, could be considered for
implementation -- to include the design and development of neighborhood- specific
watch signs, decals and other materials.
In summary, it seems somewhat redundant to attempt re- implementation of the official
Neighborhood Watch Program when we have virtually all components of said program
already in place. By exploring, discussing, and possibly implementing enhancements to
our current neighborhood associations, we might make an already successful program
even better. Much of the required interest and commitment exists with the current
neighborhood associations, programs, churches, civic groups, and so on.
ACTION REQUESTED
This is an informational memo only. No further action is requested.
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