Centralia PD reimplements neighborhood watch
The Centralia Police Department announced on its Facebook page it will start to use a community watch program.
The department used the program in the past but decided it would benefit the town again.
Centralia Mayor, Chris Cox, said he has been working to support the department’s decision.
“I remember when I was a youngster that they had the neighborhood watch program. And it made you feel pretty safe I guess almost because they had the signs in the windows you know and that kind of stuff,” Cox said.
He said the program, on top of the small town mentality, will help residents have each other’s backs.
Cox said the neighborhood watch program will entail community members watching for any suspicious activity on their street or homes on their street. He said the Police Department may decide to buy cameras, and the city would help budget for the technology.
The Police Department and city officials will walk through different wards of the city to make residents aware of the program. Saturday June 15 the department spoke with people in ward one of the city.
Jennifer and Wesley Herron have lived in Centralia for eight years. Wesley himself has lived on the same street in Centralia since 1990.
“I just feel like the neighborhood watch has never really left Centralia. I feel like it’s always been here,” Wesley Herron said.
The Herrons support the department’s decision to bring it back in an official capacity, saying it could help people from larger cities who have moved to Centralia incorporate it into their daily lives.
They had an experience which made them realize how the program can be beneficial, either officially or unofficially.
Jennifer Herron said.
Their neighbor down the street called Wesley with concerns about how they were acting. Jennifer called the police.
“They came and checked them out and one of them ended up having a warrant for their arrest,” she said.
She said an official program would provide people with a list of resources and numbers, such as the Police Department.
