The Neighborhood Watch program first began being used in 1972. It was created to organize citizens and let citizens work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their presence at all times of day and night. Neighborhood Watch programs work because they reduce opportunities for crime to occur; they don’t rely on altering or changing a criminal’s behavior or motivation.

WHAT IS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
Neighborhood Watch is one of the important way citizens can work together to prevent crime. In essence, it is an organized “be a nosey neighbor” type program in which neighbors are instructed on what to do if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods. It also deals with what action they can take to deter certain crimes.

HOW DO I START A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM?
If you are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood, please contact Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, Shannon Wilson at (423) 893-3503 ext 235 or swilson@hcsheriff.gov

DOES MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE A WATCH PROGRAM?
To find out if your neighborhood already has a program in place, please check below: