If they call that guy a neighborhood watch volunteer one more time I think I will scream. 

You know who I’m talking about. Neighborhood Watch, as we practice it here in
Hazelwood, is a peaceful collaboration between citizens and police. Volunteers call the police when they see suspicious behavior. If any shooting needs to be done, the police will take care of it.

As I write this blog, the lead article on Hazelwood Patch is about a Hazelwood Police Officer who received an award for risking his life while doing his job. He put himself in harm’s way in a successful effort to stop an armed robbery in progress.

Last year another officer received an award for risking his life while chasing an armed suspect on foot. Yesterday, the city council received a letter
from a grateful family who, as victims of a crime, were helped by the Hazelwood
Police.  In Hazelwood, our Neighborhood Watch program helps citizens become aware of the excellent police officers who serve our city.  If we call them, they
will help us.

Last week, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer who was working in her front yard noticed two teenage males who were acting strangely around her house.  She continued to observe their behavior and decided to call the police. She gave the police an excellent description of the boys and the police arrived quickly and caught the two in the act of cutting the window screens of a neighbor’s home. 

In Hazelwood, our Neighborhood Watch program encourages people to call the police when they see a situation that strikes them as suspicious.  The police respond to and appreciate that information because they realize the benefit of having extra eyes and ears (and sometimes noses) to help them solve and prevent crimes.

I represent Ward 8 on the Hazelwood City Council. Neighborhood Watch has been an active program in my ward for many years because there are concerned citizens who are willing to stay involved. Hazelwood has a Neighborhood Watch Commission, with a representative from each ward. We have meetings from time to time, with citizens and police working together to deal with specific incidents.  We encourage people to have block parties to get to know their neighbors. 
Neighborhood Watch in Hazelwood means educating citizens about how to
keep our neighborhoods safe. And it is working. 

If you would like to participate in Neighborhood Watch in Hazelwood, contact me if you live in Ward 8, at mgsingleton@hazelwoodmo.org or if you live in another ward contact Sgt. Andrew V. Eagan at 314-513-5208 or aveagan@hazelwoodmo.org.