CLOVIS, Calif. (KMPH) -
As city and county budgets continue to crumble, law enforcement is going to have to rely more and more on the support of citizens to keep crime rates from heading in the wrong direction.
Dave Robertson says, "Police can't do it all, the community has to watch and if we can help that's more power to the community and the city."
Dave Robertson is the block captain of his neighborhood.
He and several others attended a meeting to learn how to better defend their neighborhood against crooks.
Clovis Police Officer Corporal Curt Fleming says, "I'm going to drive through and look for things out of place, but you are living there. Residents, you're going to see cars, going to see neighbors, and say wait a minute that doesn't look right and have the ability to call us."
Corporal Fleming teaches community watch residents many skills.
For instance, if you see a suspicious person in your neighborhood, start from the top and work your way down.
Look at the person's hair color, skin color, height, weight, any tattoos, any scars, and then look at the clothes all the way down to the shoes.
Once your neighborhood is organized, for 25 bucks a piece, your neighborhood will be fitted with community watch signs.
Dave Robertson says with the Fresno County Jail looking like a revolving door and during these tough economic times when residential burglaries are on the rise, we all need to get involved.
Dave Robertson says, "We've had a couple of car break-ins, we've had a house break-in, but you still have to be aware of what's going on in your community, and I think that's what this community watch is going to do."
The Clovis Police Department's goal is to have the signs all over the city. But officers are looking for more block captains. If you'd like to jump on board, you can call the Clovis Police Department at (559) 324–2400 and say you want to belong to the Clovis Community Watch program.
