TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Eve R. Irvine, Chief of Police
Tim Hageman, Police Captain
Julie Dahlgren, Sr. Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Report on the Manhattan Beach Police Department Neighborhood Watch Program (Police Chief Irvine).
RECEIVE REPORT
Line
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report regarding the Manhattan Beach Police Department Neighborhood Watch Program.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which enlists the active participation of residents, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce crime in the community. It involves neighbors getting to know each other and being trained to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhood, and to take preventative measures to protect their homes and property.
Neighborhood Watch has been active in Manhattan Beach since 1980, prompted by a significant increase in property crime in Manhattan Beach - over 100 residential burglaries a month. Now, the program is more than 400 block captains strong and residential burglaries have been reduced to less than 15 a month on average, an 85% decrease - a credit to the value of this outstanding partnership with the community. These block captains act as liaisons between the Police Department and the block, sending out weekly crime information and coordinating block meetings.
DISCUSSION:
Manhattan Beach’s Neighborhood Watch Program epitomizes the best in community policing. Citizen involvement is key to preserving and protecting the quality of life in Manhattan Beach, and the Neighborhood Watch Program allows the community to work together in partnership with the Police Department at achieving this important goal. The Police Department’s dedicated Neighborhood Watch volunteers donate over 10,000 volunteer hours each year to the Manhattan Beach community.
The Neighborhood Watch program also partners with the Fire Department in bringing disaster preparedness and response to the neighborhood level with the “Map Your Neighborhood Training,” which builds and strengthens disaster readiness among neighbors. Once their block is trained, they have an opportunity to practice their drill in the annual ShakeOut in October.
Neighborhood Watch hosts two Town Hall style informational meetings a year, which are open to the Manhattan Beach community. The next meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. and will focus entirely on Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness. Neighborhood Watch also holds an Annual National Night Out campaign, encouraging block captains to host neighborhood gatherings, block parties, barbecues, etc. National Night Out brings neighbors together and encourages citizen involvement in crime prevention activities. This year’s event will be on Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
The Police Department is constantly recruiting and training new block captains for the Neighborhood Watch program and seeking dedicated volunteers. To this end, the Police Department recently launched the “Paint the Town Orange” campaign with a goal of 100% of blocks in Manhattan Beach covered by block captains, and therefore, “painted orange.” Residents are encouraged to call the Neighborhood Watch office at (310) 802-5184 or fill out a Neighborhood Watch interest card on the City website if they are interested in participating.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
The Police Department promotes the Neighborhood Watch program and Neighborhood Watch events through press releases, Nixle messages, Facebook posts, and on the City website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW
Not applicable.
Attachment:
Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Map