Neighborhood Watch/Business Watch Programs

Crime Prevention Officers work to maintain, revitalize, and create new Neighborhood, Business, and City-wide Watch programs. 

The Neighborhood Watch is a program designed to train members of neighborhoods on how to secure their homes better, get to know one another, and organize themselves in teams to “watch” their communities for possible criminal activity. Citizens are trained on how to report crime and receive prevention tips/information from the police. Block Captains hold Neighborhood Watch meetings. Block Captains are usually chosen by the Neighborhood Watch members in each area based on their availability to communicate with police and the members of their watch. They are generally in charge of the neighborhood when it comes to coordination of efforts, with the assistance of the police. A City-wide Neighborhood Watch Block Captains meeting will be held once every 30 days.

In 2011, there were 60 documented Neighborhood Watch programs. In 2012, there were 75 watches or renewed organizations, a growth of 15. A total of 252 contacts in the community watch program subscribe to NIXLE and keep in contact with police through crime watch posts and email. This year 62 meetings were held, with over 4000 citizens attending.

Visit Nextdoor.com, a private social network for you, your neighbors, and your community: https://nextdoor.com/choose_address/?i=kzbwtabumsqhvvcqcnuf.

Business Watch is a program that continued to grow in 2012. It is designed to promote a safe and friendly environment for Santa Fe businesses, employees, and citizens. Officers Chavarria and Butler have conducted meetings to educate the business community about crime reporting and prevention techniques. We have found that business owners are very interested in partnering with the Police Department and other businesses to keep their businesses safe. This year 20 meetings were held, with approximately 276 persons attending.