Starting a Neighborhood Watch Group
Although it can sometimes seem a little tricky, putting a group together can be quite easy. The police department has put together a step by step set of instructions to help you on your way.
Your first step in the program is to review the checklist for starting your group. This form is a critical first step in helping to guide you in the direction of forming a group. Often, if people follow the checklist, they report back that they had no problem forming a group of their own.
- Download the Neighborhood Watch checklist
The checklist makes several references to the neighborhood watch starter packet, as well as how to contact the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, Officer Romey. The neighborhood watch starter packet contains information needed to get your group going. This includes a welcome letter, captain book, and flyers (available by mail only at this time) to give out to others interested in forming a neighborhood watch program. This information is mostly for your review, and to answer questions you may have.
Your second step is to download the information spoken of above.
Your third step is to contact Officer Romey, and advise him you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch group. Officer Romey will look for a time he has available to come to your neighborhood and speak on the program to you and your fellow neighbors. Officer Romey can be reached by calling 324-7643. He can also provide flyers to give to your neighbors, telling them about the scheduled meeting.
Locate a place to have the meeting. You can use any venue you desire. Often, churches and schools are more than open to hosting neighborhood watch groups. Backyards, garages, basements, and living rooms also make great venues. Confirm the location and time with Officer Romey.
At the meeting, Officer Romey will take about 45 minutes to an hour to describe the program, allowing for questions. During this time he will go over all the benefits of the neighborhood watch program in an attempt to help you gather support. He will also provide you with the registration form. This form is a requirement to the neighborhood watch program in Independence. This helps us to keep tabs on how the program is going, as well as giving us critical contact information for those involved with the program. This information is also used at the end of the year to give awards to all of those who have worked hard at making the neighborhood watch program a success. You can download a neighborhood watch registration form below. The form can be faxed to Officer Romey at 325-7647, or mailed to:
Ofc. Rob Romey
10920 E. Winner Rd.
Independence, MO 64052
Finally, once your group is up and running you will be required to keep track of your status (this is optional, and only required if you want to receive awards and/or neighborhood watch signs). The program has a qualification form that will help you keep track of your progress in the program. Awards and signs are figured on a yearly basis. You will also find a sign in sheet to use at both meetings as well as block parties.
Hopefully, this has helped answer many of your questions reference starting a neighborhood watch group. As always, if you have any questions, please contact Officer Romey at 325-7643, or e-mail him at rromey@indepmo.org.