News

Neighborhood watch groups helpful to police

By NATHAN BRUTTELL Argus-Press Staff Writer

Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:19 PM EDT

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY - When crimes occur, many people look at the situation with helplessness, but neighborhood watch groups have formed across the county in recent years to help fight back.

About 12 watch groups exist across the county, providing vital information to area law enforcement agencies. Lt. Mike TerMeer and Deputy Steve Nobis, of the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Office, send e-mails and alerts to the groups on a regular basis to improve crime awareness in the county.

“It's a big give and take,” TerMeer said. “People help us by reporting suspicious activity in their area and we help them keep an eye out for what to look for. It's a great process.”

The Sheriff's Office has also recently started using Nixle, a free online service that provides instant alerts via e-mail or text message to all local subscribers.

“We know a big part of this is to get the word out there,” TerMeer said. “We always get a lot of tips and sometimes they can be very helpful to us and make that difference.”

Det. Lt. David Kirk said watch groups can be a powerful entity if managed correctly and people show interest.

“The groups, if enough people join, can almost act like a mobile foot patrol for us,” Kirk said. “One of the groups in Perry got started because of a rash of larcenies awhile back. We started communicating with them if we had suspects, and the next day we'd get tons of calls giving us more and more information, and I can tell you it led to the conclusion of some investigations.”

TerMeer and Nobis started the movement of Neighborhood Watch communities in the area in 2004. In addition to providing local residents with up-to-the-second information, TerMeer and Nobis also provide signs, information booklets and stickers for residents to post in the neighborhoods. The pair also attend watch group meetings to bring in new members and provide basic instructions on the process.

“It's good for people to know they're not alone facing crime in the area,” TerMeer said. “We're a phone call away but it also makes a big difference for people to be aware because we can't be everywhere.”

TerMeer said the Sheriff's Office primarily looks for assistance from the groups on property damage crimes.

“Oftentimes someone in the neighborhood saw what happened and sometimes we hear about it,” TerMeer said. “It'd be extremely helpful if every time someone witnessed a property crime they gave us a call.”

The neighborhood watch groups are divided into four sections throughout the county. The northwest, which includes Fairfield, Middlebury, Owosso and Rush townships; the northeast, consisting of Caledonia, Hazelton, New Haven and Venice townships; the southwest, Bennington, Perry, Sciota and Woodhull townships; and the southeast, Antrim, Burns, Shiawassee and Vernon townships.

“We know that not only is communication a key to this whole thing, but getting the information to the right people is a big part of it too,” TerMeer said. “So when we send messages we can select specific areas where that information could be very important.”

Kirk said the process involves little more than the exchange of information, but added that communication with residents can mean the difference in some cases.

“We make sure to let the group coordinators know what's going on and we keep in constant contact with them,” Kirk said. “These groups have often communicated back to us when they see a pattern of crime developing and some of them have led us in the right direction and have given us that extra piece of information that helped our investigation.”

While not every tip or alert results in an arrest or a closed case, TerMeer said he has no doubt about the importance of the groups.

“A lot of our job is about dealing with the public,” he said. “When we can let someone know of something happening in their area and they can let us know, it makes committing a crime pretty difficult and it makes us safer.”

Those interested in joining a local watch group should call TerMeer or Nobis at the Sheriff's Office at 743-3411. The Sheriff's Office is also encouraging residents to sign up to the Nixle alert system at www.nixle.com.

Comment on this Story

FED UP with the Bull---- wrote on Aug 26, 2009 5:52 AM:

" Someone start a RECALL petition and get Colby out of Office NOW. He is a disgrace! "

Nichole wrote on Aug 22, 2009 4:16 PM:

" Esther

Would we follow the Prosecutor around once he leaves the office at noon or 3pm? LOL "

Durand wrote on Aug 22, 2009 11:42 AM:

" LOL, What's a Boo Boo? I'm not really keen on working with the same group of shlomo's who tanked the drunken prosecutor case, (Among others) but I'm willing to forgo that to help my neighbors out. I already keep an eye on things around my area because I'm always up late at night and there's a lot of empty houses out here. Would be nice to be in contact with others in my area who are doing the same.
As far as little man braidwood and his boyfriend colbry the whino, when is the next election???????? "

keith wrote on Aug 21, 2009 8:38 PM:

" hey durand didnt you read the artical? its telling you to call the good o boy network.and ask for boo boo. "

corunna resident wrote on Aug 21, 2009 8:33 PM:

" esther, thats a great idea since school will be starting soon. i prey daily that school was out the day colbry ran straight through that stop sign and t-boned that car drunk.and fleeing police at speeds of 80 mile a hour.braidwood should resign also for his dutys in all this corruption. "

nelly wrote on Aug 21, 2009 8:24 PM:

" i live in genesee county and we have tried the neighborhood watch here.all it did was put the home owner in danger.the gangs found out who turned the person in and damaged several homes here.let the police handle it thats what they are getting payed for. "

Esther Williams wrote on Aug 21, 2009 3:45 PM:

" How about forming a "prosecutor watch" here in Shiawassee County? "

Durand wrote on Aug 21, 2009 2:52 PM:

" Anyone know if there is one for the city of Durand? If so, can Someone post the contact info. If not, can someone post the info on who to start one? "