Neighborhood Watch Program

Why Neighborhood Watch?

There are obvious benefits Neighborhood Watch volunteers and their communities have experienced throughout the years, such as:

  • a reduction in crime
  • a better quality of life
  • a greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control building community pride and unity
  • preparing for helping others and ourselves in our community providing law enforcement agencies with volunteer support year-round
  • becoming the extra "eyes and ears" of law enforcement personnel and therefore reduce law enforcement's burden
  • disaster preparedness
  • two-way support between you, your neighbors, and Keene Police Department

What a Neighborhood Watch is

  • Crime prevention through citizen involvement
  • Effective Means to address the number of crimes, especially burglaries, taking place
  • Means to provide information on how to secure property and make it less vulnerable to break-ins
  • Link between Eyes and Ears "in the know" (you), and the way to catch criminals in the act (Keene PD)

What a Neighborhood Watch is NOT

  • Citizens on Patrol
  • Security Force with issued radios, vehicles, and especially $$ funding
  • A creation of any extra "citizen's arrest" powers
  • An expectation that neighbors use citizen's arrest powers when not on their own property

Neighborhood Watch Related Documents

  1. Neighborhood Watch Area Coordinators Map
  2. Neighborhood Watch Information Oct 2, 2021

How to begin?

  • Step 1: Contact the Keene Police Department at 817-641-7831 or email policeadmin@keenetx.com and schedule a meeting to discuss the role we would ask you to fill. 
  • Step 2: Recruit your neighbors to attend a Neighborhood Watch Meeting. Let your Area Coordinator know so they, and the Keene Police Department, can attend as well.
  • Step 3: Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan.
  • Step 4: Hold regular meetings and hold training on relevant skills.
  • Step 5: Implement a phone tree (or social media contact plan on Facebook, Nextdoor, etc.) and take action steps.

Once we get all organized, the Bureau of Justice website has all the info you would need to start a Neighborhood Watch.

And now we work together to...

  • Grow the program throughout Keene

    • Volunteers identified, assigned, and recognized for their efforts
    • Block Captains trained and integrated into the overall program through Keene Police Department and Area Coordinators
    • Establishing partnerships

  • Keep each other informed and safe

    • Scheduled contacts with liaison
    • As-needed contacts due to emergencies, crime concerns, questions

  • Look for outreach opportunities

    • Neighborhood beautification
    • Assisting folks needing help with their lawn, animals, etc