Responsibilities
Block captain.
A conduit for information flowing up to the committee chair and down to the people on his or her block. Block captains will introduce themselves to all residents on their blocks, will drop off a contact card to each household that includes details on how the resident can reach the block captain, and will gather contact information about those residents so that people can be reached quickly when situations arise. Block captains can also deliver PLAIN Welcome Kits to new residents in their area. Welcome Kits will contain new information about Neighborhood Watch. Block captains may be asked to attend Neighborhood Watch meetings.
Walker.
Will “patrol” the city on foot, bicycle or by car and share information with the block captain and/or the police about anything unusual.
Watcher.
Will notice unusual things and report them.
Other folks.
Make signs, call for meetings etc.
Police.
The Chief of Police agreed to share information with the committee chairperson about violent crimes within 8-12 hours of the occurrence, and non-violent crimes, such as burglaries, between 12-24 hours. A Neighborhood Watch volunteer will visit the Pine Lake Police Department twice weekly to review police reports, noting incidents that should be shared with residents. This volunteer will deliver information to the committee chair who will send it on to block captains for dispersal.
Information Flow
Something has happened.
You personally witness something out of the ordinary such as a car or person that looks unfamiliar and behaves in a suspicious manner, or you have a first hand experience that is an emergency or other distressful situation. If you have a cell phone, always carry it with you.
1. Immediately call 911 to report the incident or situation. Try to notice and include as many details about the situation as possible: someone’s appearance, especially things that aren’t easily changed such as tattooes, scars, teeth missing or broken, height, weight, etc., what time the incident occurred, the location, etc. When an officer responds, be sure to file a police report.
2. Contact your block captain with all details regarding the incident, or have someone else to it for you if you’re not able. It’s helpful to create your own written description of what happened so that you can report details more easily and consistently.
3. Block captain will contact committee chair with all details.
4. Committee chair will verify information within 24 hours with the police. Once information has been verified, chair will contact block captains with details.
5. Block captains will contact all residents in their blocks with information.
Other emergencies.
When weather conditions cause residents to lose power, committee chair will contact block captains with information about availability of public buildings and what to do if there’s an emergency. Depending on conditions, block captains may go door-to-door to deliver information and check on the well-being of residents.