More Neighborhood Watch groups emerge

• THE TENNESSEAN • November 12, 2008

FRANKLIN — David Stephonson is on the Neighborhood Watch committee in Franklin's Founders Pointe subdivision, and he's diligent about preserving his neighborhood's safety.
"Last year we had some cars vandalized. Since our neighborhood group started, that hasn't happened anymore," he said.
In Spring Hill, Alan Singer spends most of his day keeping watch on his Wakefield neighborhood. So far, crime is not rampant in the fairly new community and he plans to keep it that way. He started Wakefield's Neighborhood Watch group three months ago.
"I did it in order to keep property values up and to keep neighborhoods safe," Singer said.
Law enforcement agencies throughout Williamson County rely on community watch groups, but Spring Hill and Franklin have the most momentum under way.
"The police departments do not have the man power to come in and police the areas as often as they should. You just want to make sure your family's in a safe environment," Singer continued. "If everyone's on board, it will make the characters unwanted in the neighborhood uncomfortable."
"The existence of these groups increases citizen awareness and encourages information sharing between the city's citizens and the police department that protects them," said Rose Steagall, Franklin Police Department's community relations officer.
Spring Hill Police Chief John Smith echoed Steagall's comments. "With today's economic times, we don't have the staffing we need. Having the community there is a plus all around. They're an extra pair of eyes for us to deter crime."
To start a neighborhood group in your community, contact your local police department. In Brentwood, the Neighborhood Watch program is coordinated by officer Mark Wood. If you are interested in starting a program in your neighborhood, please call Wood or officer Sam Bady at 615-371-2267 or e-mail Wood at woodm@brentwood-tn.org.