Neighborhood
Watch
Today, it is not unusual for a member of an American
household to experience some type of crime within
their lifetime. Americans today, more than ever, are
getting involved to reduce the chances of themselves
or their loved ones being victimized.
Throughout Illinois and across the country,
concerned citizens are becoming a part of a
Neighborhood Watch group. They feel by reducing
opportunities for crime, looking out for their
neighbors, and acting as extra eyes and ears for law
enforcement, they can improve the quality of life in
their community, their neighborhoods and their
families in particular.
The City of Quincy implemented its first
Neighborhood Watch Program by initiating its first
watch in the area of Southern View, which is located
on the south side of the City. This first
Neighborhood Watch group began in 1987. At the
present time, there are
41 Neighborhood Watch groups
(Watches) in the City of Quincy. The individual
watch groups are comprised of citizens working in
relation with the police department and the
community to combat crime issues that affect their
neighborhoods. By clicking on the above link you
will see a list of each Watch Group and their
boundaries (divided by streets), which identify
their location in the City.
Each of the Watches has one or more block captains.
The block captain serves as the first link in the
community chain between the Watch and the Police
Department. One block captain from each Watch serves
as a representative on the Neighborhood Watch
Council which meets on the 5th Wednesday of those
months having a 5th Wednesday.
Each Watch may designate a specific time for
conducting its own meetings. An area wide
Neighborhood Watch meeting is held the 3rd Tuesday
of every month at 6:00 pm. These meetings are prior
to the meetings of the Quincy Citizens Police
Academy Alumni Association but both groups share
presentations by various speakers talking on various
subjects. Neighborhood Watch meetings additionally
receive information on current crime trends within
the community.
Whenever possible, the Police Department will send a
district officer to the respective Neighborhood
Watch meeting in their assigned area. Since we began
the Neighborhood Watch Program, we have received
numbers of tips and complaints from the citizens who
live in a Watch area. This information is shared
with the officers and their feedback is requested
when they take action on these complaints and tips.
By attending the Watch meetings, the officers can
get to know the people they serve and they can get
to know the officers.
One of the positive results of a strong Neighborhood
Watch Program is a wealth of intelligence
information for the residents and officers in that
area. The incidences of unreported or unobserved
crimes go down. A good Watch will foster a stronger
team spirit between the community and the
department.
We encourage you to join your Neighborhood Watch
group or ff there is not a Watch group in the area
where you reside, we encourage you to attend an area
wide meeting of the Watches to learn how to get a
Neighborhood Watch started.
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