Message from Councilwoman Elizabeth Stamler | September 13, 2024
Working with the Scotch Plains Police Department, I am pleased that we are now launching a new Neighborhood Watch program for a community off Route 22 east where there had been four attempts to steal vehicles from homes.
The township has had a watch program on the books since 1975, but there had not been an active group since 2011. Residents along Paff Place, Prospect Street and Valley Avenue reached out to the police, who were eager to restart the program in that area and expand it across town.
Det. Sgt. Jason Everitt, who joined the department in October 2002 and had previously served with the Union-Essex auto theft task force for more than seven years, serves as coordinator of the rejuvenated neighborhood watch. He is working closely with the community volunteers, who should be lauded for their commitment to making our local streets even safer.
The program is simple, but very effective. Residents interested in forming a neighborhood watch can
Volunteers will be briefed on what appears suspicious, such as unfamiliar individual walking in the street on a cold winter night, or an unknown vehicle that continues to circle the neighborhood.
Residents will be asked to check in on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or have disabilities. If people are going away on vacation, they would alert the neighborhood watch and ask if the mail can be picked up and to alert police if anything looks out of order.
The volunteers help collect email addresses of neighbors as well as distribute flyers with QR codes that explain the program. Police also join residents for door-to-door canvassing to explain the program to neighbors and see who else wants to get involved. Residents are also encouraged to install “ring” doorbells, or other cameras that could be used in an investigation in case of an incident.
Members of a Neighborhood Watch have no policing powers; they are simply being asked to keep an eye out and to alert Scotch Plains police whenever necessary.
As part of the program, the police install “Neighborhood Watch” signs in areas participating in the program. Det. Sgt. Everitt said he ordered 10 initial signs and is eager to use them – and order more – as the program expands to other neighborhoods on the north and south sides of town.
With the help of Lt. James Richie, Det. Sgt. Everitt introduced an Office of Emergency Management aspect to Neighborhood Watch. The office can provide online training programs at no cost for such important topics as responding to natural disasters or identifying potential terrorism.
It is my hope that other residents participate in this important crime prevention program, which stresses education and common sense. It is all about watching out for each other.
Potential crime in Scotch Plains has repeatedly been thwarted by community tips. With new residents moving into town, a Neighborhood Watch is a great way to build togetherness. Through this program, let’s get to know each other, let’s talk to each other and lets make our community the safest it has ever been.
