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Residents gain control with block watch
Neighbors can stop crimes
By Jolene Keller
“People can’t just sit back, shut their shades, and pretend that nothing is happening.”
- Tim Vertz, member of the Riverwest Neighborhood Associtation
Riverwest residents have taken their safety concerns into their own hands by starting block watches in parts of the community where there are safety issues.
The concept behind the program is simple. It is based on the idea of working together, with neighbors being the first and best line of defense against crimes.
The Block Watch program is nothing new in Milwaukee, although it has undergone recent changes. Earlier this year the program began receiving funding from the city, thus giving the program more structure.
A representative was chosen from each police district, and the representatives then created sub-councils, which are used to pass information back and forth.
A community liaison police officer, appointed to each police district, works to get neighbors to form a chain of information between citizens and the police. Members share information about crimes they have experienced, such as thefts or muggings. They talk about what can be done to make things safer. New members are recruited with fliers and potluck get-togethers aimed to initiate neighborhood contact.
Tim Vertz, Riverwest Neighborhood Association (RNA) member and chair of the 5th district Block Watch, said he believes the program is vital to keeping the Riverwest and UWM areas safe.
“I encourage students to get involved in the neighborhood connection, to know who lives on their block – to know their neighbors,” Vertz said.
Exchanging personal experiences about crimes may not stop criminals from wanting to commit crimes, but they can make it much more difficult for the criminals to get what they are after.
“People can’t just sit back, shut their shades and pretend that nothing is happening,” said Vertz.
He said residents need to follow several simple procedures to stay safe. Those include walking with friends, not leaving possessions in cars, locking doors and realizing anyone could potentially be a victim of crime.
Those moving into the new Riverview dorms should take these tips seriously, Vertz said, since many newcomers will be freshman unfamiliar with the city’s dangers.
“It’s especially important to new students coming from smaller communities, since it takes a while to adjust to the city,” Vertz said. “People have to be on guard about potentialities, and if someone tells them about these things it really helps.”
RNA administrator Dan Knauss also added his perspective on the watch blocks.
“The purpose of this may be to draw larger group attention to a specific problem source, and to place multiple calls to police,” Knauss said.
Knauss added that a successful block watch includes people of diverse ages, a working relationship with police and aldermen, an understanding of basic burglary and theft prevention and a practice of good judgment.
Knauss continued by saying it helps to become friends with neighbors to open the doors of communication.
To get involved in the program, visit the city of Milwaukee Web site at Milwaukee.gov and look under the Milwaukee Police community service division. There a manual is provided with all the information needed for a person to gain some control over their safety.
There will be a safety meeting Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Friends Meeting House on the 3200 block of Gordon Place, at which Community Liaison Officer Ray Robakowski will be speaking.
> Comments
Melissa Tempel, RNA secretary on Nov 28, 2007 at 05:26 PM:
It's a shame that the Riverwest Neighbhorhood Association was not mentioned much in this article- additionally, it was incorrectly stated that Dan Knauss is the "administrator" when he has nothing to do with RNA.
We have monthly meetings for all Riverwest residents. Dec. 11th we are having a winter potluck at Gordon Park. Our website is www.my-rna.org for anyone interested in more details.
Jacob on Dec 02, 2007 at 10:33 AM:
The image shows with the article is a tag, a harmless victimless crime. The crime that needs to stop in riverwest is violence and theft.