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Within the past six months, the Hastings Police Department, in cooperation with neighborhood residents, have been working together to create five neighborhood watch groups. This is an excellent start and demonstrates that neighborhoods want to be active partners in community policing. Nevertheless, it is the goal of the Hastings Police Department to be a Crime Watch Community which requires all of us to be involved. If you want to fight crime and make your neighborhood safer, please contact Officer Wayne Hicks at 437-4126. Remember-- community policing is you! Neighborhoods Fighting Crime Crime Prevention Officer Wayne Hicks There is a phrase that goes "No one knows the neighborhood better than the people who live there." For example, the Johnsons usually have their outside light on until 9:00 p.m., or the Nelson's house windows are always closed even on the hottest days, or the Jones' dog Spot very rarely barks. However, these routine daily occurrences if disturbed can be a warning sign of a crime being committed in their neighborhood. The Johnson's light that is nonnally out at 9:00 p.m. was broken by a vandal throwing rocks; the Nelson's opened windows were due to a burglary while they were on vacation; and, the Jones' dog Spot was barking because an intruder had taken one of the children's bikes in the backyard. These are basic examples of neighborhood crime. Many of the neighborhood crimes that are committed can be prevented by establishing a neighborhood crime watch. A successful neighborhood crime watch program consists of the following: 50% participation from residents in the neighborhood, involvement with Operation Identification, and two meetings a year between residents and the Police Dept.'s Crime Prevention Officer. However, the most important element to a successful crime prevention program is YQ!l and how your neighborhood decides how to conduct their watch. Volume I D.A.R.E. Drua Abuse Resistance Education D.A.R.E. Officer - Michael Munson The D.A.R.E. Program is a drug prevention educational program in which specially trained unifonned peace officers teach a seventeen-week curriculum to fifth grade students in the classroom. D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort between school districts, parents, local law enforcement and is designed to educate young people in developing the skills necessary to resist peer pressure against drugs and alcohol. Kids today build a strong relationship of trust and friendship between themselves and the D.A.R.E. Officer. Kids also learn to view the law enforcement officers as allies in life - not enemies. If you want more infonnation about the D.A.R.E. Program, please contact the Police Department at 437-4126. Page 5