Neighborhood Watch Program
Neighborhood Watch Programs
Generally speaking, Happy Valley’s crime rates are low and the Happy Valley Police Department responds quickly to emergency situations. But that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t occur. Whether it is a car or home theft, a prank gone bad, or suspicious activity that makes you feel uneasy, being part of a larger safety plan can help you as a resident feel empowered and more in control of your destiny. Neighborhoods in Happy Valley usually consist of tight-knit groups – communities that care about each other and want to stop crime before it happens. That’s a big reason why Neighborhood Watch programs were created. Since its inception in 1972, the National Neighborhood Watch Program has helped bring together local law enforcement agencies and individual citizens in efforts to curb crime. Knowing that residents are often the first to notice something amiss, Neighborhood Watch programs can be an excellent addition to any community safety strategy. The following are steps you can take to get your own Neighborhood Watch group up and running:
- Recruit and Organize as many neighbors as possible
The first step to creating a Neighborhood Watch group is talking to your fellow neighbors. Find out who might be interested and would want to help you put one together. You may be surprised at how eager your neighbors will be to talk about safety and ways you can collectively encourage this.
- Contact the Public Safety Team and schedule a meeting
The next step is contacting Happy Valley’s Public Safety Team, which is comprised of City Community Officers and Happy Valley Police. A representative from this team will come meet with your group at a time that is convenient for you. This person will answer questions, provide consultation, and collaborate with your group. This can help open lines of communication and demystify misconceptions about law enforcement practices.
- Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan
Neighborhoods don’t have to wait for a Public Safety Team member to attend a meeting before you can proceed. It may be helpful for your group to hold an informal meeting to first discuss the concerns and issues affecting your specific neighborhood. Determine what your top three safety concerns are and develop a list of goals that your group wants to focus on.
- Create a communication plan
Follow through is key to a successful Neighborhood Watch group. A designated leader can help set the tone and establish routine group practices. Having someone who is good at delegating tasks and setting an agenda is a plus. Setting meeting dates and times that are consistent will help keep the topic of safety simply part of your neighborhood culture. Additionally, it is important to decide what type of communication will work best for your watch group – generating a contact list to share information through Email is usually helpful, but your group may determine another format works just as well. Many neighborhood groups use websites such as Facebook and Nextdoor to communicate with their neighbors. A neighborhood email distribution list is also a great way to include neighbors who may not use social media accounts. However, no matter how advanced technology has become, when time is of the essence, a phone number is often the quickest way to get a message out. For this reason, a master list of phone numbers is highly recommended.
- Take Action: Hold Meetings and Events
A Neighborhood Watch Toolkit can be an excellent source to draw topic ideas from. Check out https://www.nnw.org/toolkit to get started. Your participation in Happy Valley’s award-winning National Night Out event is another great way to demonstrate your commitment to safety. By coming together for food and fun, neighbors get a chance to get to know one another and mingle with members of City Code Enforcement, Clackamas Fire District and Happy Valley Police Department.
The City’s Public Safety Team is fully trained to support efforts that can help detour crime and create safer neighborhoods. Using concepts and principles from Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), the Public Safety Team can offer tips and suggestions that focus on lighting, landscaping, and user-friendly surveillance practices that make criminal behavior more challenging.
Additional safeguards: Safety patrols by Community Service Officers can offer peace of mind when you need to be away from your home for an extended period of time. They can also help support efforts to curb crime if a neighborhood has experienced an influx of safety concerns leading to multiple police reports. As part of the City’s Neighborhood Watch Program, a request for the service is carried out by completing a confidential form through the City website. Once submitted, a member of the Code Enforcement team will review your request. Learn more here: https://www.happyvalleyor.gov/services/code-enforcement/residential-vacation-checks/
If you are interested in learning how the City of Happy Valley can help you with your neighborhood Watch Program, please contact us at 503-783-3800. Our Public Safety team will be happy to assist in the organization of your group, provide crime prevention tips, install neighborhood watch signs, and more.
Safety patrols by Community Service Officers can offer peace of mind when you need to be away from your home for an extended period of time. They can also help support efforts to curb crime if a neighborhood has experienced an influx of safety concerns leading to multiple police reports. As part of the City’s Neighborhood Watch Program, a request for the service is carried out by completing a confidential form through the City website. Once submitted, a member of the Code Enforcement team will review your request.