The Neighborhood Watch Program is a highly successful effort that has been in existence for more than thirty years in cities and counties across America. It provides a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement and citizens to protect our communities.
We are currently in the process of re-energizing our Ridgemoore Homeowner's Neighborhood Watch program. We have a new Neighborhood Watch Coordinator in 2011, Luke Smith, and we have a good set of Block Captains!
However, we need EVERYONE'S SUPPORT! Your Block Captain should be contacting you very soon to explain the program and how we can all work together to may our neighborhood safer!
How Neighborhood Watch Works
Neighborhood Watch works when we all work together for the safety of our community. Below are the roles and responsibilities:
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Duties
The Coordinator is the liaison between the Crime Prevention Officer/Homeland Protection Specialist and the residents of the neighborhood. This person is responsible for organizing the various neighborhood meetings by coordinating time dates and locations with the Crime Prevention Officer and the neighborhood participants. The coordinator is also expected to:
- Maintain an up to date list of Block Captains and participants in the neighborhood and see to it that this list is passed on to the Crime Prevention Officer/ Homeland Protection Specialist at least once per year. This list should contain contact information, names, address, phone numbers, home & work and email address. This information will help in implementing the phone chain or email alert system. When you are contacted with information by the AREA COORDINATOR and or CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER, Just pass it on to your Block Captains and they in turn pass it on to their blocks. If your community has email address's for most of its residents, the Coordinator can keep this list and send email to all. Block Captains can then telephone residents that do not have Computers or email or print out a copy and deliver it.
- Keep in contact with the Crime Prevention Officer and AREA Coordinator to both give and receive information on crime prevention techniques, neighborhood problems or crime trends.
- Disseminate and Educate: with information from the Crime Prevention Officer to the citizens, residents of your neighborhood. Know your Zone and educate your residents that they live in OCSO Sector 3 Zone (see below) determine what Zone you live in and constantly remind residents of the Zone they live in.
- Relay information: on community problems and concerns to the Crime Prevention Officer.
- Attend Neighborhood Watch Seminars: and training sessions to learn how to keep your NW Program Active and interested.
- Recruit and assign Block Captains to the various blocks or areas of our neighborhood.
Block Captain Duties
Block Captains are the link between the citizens in the neighborhood and the NW Coordinator and are responsible for approximately 10 homes. Once contacted by the Coordinator, they are depended on to carry out the telephone phone chain and reach all residents on their block. This can be done by phone, flyer or email. They encourage the participation in the Neighborhood Watch Program and provide the Coordinator with information from the citizens.
Homeowner Duties
Each homeowner is involved in Neighborhood Watch! Remember, it is simply "neighbors watching out for neighbors". Contact 911 immediately if you suspect a crime is in progress! If you observe suspicious behavior or have questions, contact your assigned Block Captain so that they can contact the Coordinator and all the other neighbors.
Orange County Sheriff's Office "Sectors" and "Zones"
We all live in the Orange County Sheriffs Office, Sector 3 Area (West Orange) Sector 3: Borders are: South- Lake Buena Vista, North- Silver Star Road, East- City Limits, West- Lake County Line
Sector 3 is divided into 5 Zones, as follows:
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ZONE 30: Bordered by Lake Buena Vista on the South, Route #535 on the West, I-4 on the East, and Conroy-Windermere Road on the North
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ZONE 31: From Chase Road on the East to Lake County Line on the West, and on the North by Oakland, Winter Garden City Limits
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ZONE 32: From Conroy-Windermere Road on the South, To Silver Star on the North, to Windermere Road on the West to Hiawassee Road on the East. Ridgemoore is in Zone 32!
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ZONE 33: From Hiawassee Road on the West to the City limits on the East, North to Silver Star, On the South to Metro West & Raleigh
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ZONE 34: From Rt # 50 on the South, to Silver Star on the North, On the West by Powers Drive and Mercy Drive/City Limits to the East.
Calling In Reports
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If you perceive a crime to be in progress and/or life-threatening, call 911!
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If it is over with, or you need information or help, call the non-emergency line 407-836-HELP.
