Briarwood Area ~ Since 1997 ~
Neighborhood Association
Little Rock's Second Safest Neighborhood
BANA Vice President James Thomson, acting as the BANA Crime Watch Coordinator, opens the meeting.
Next BANA Crime Watch Meeting - 5:15 pm Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Media Center - Brady Elementary School
Getting Down to Business About Crime
James Thomson, BANAs Crime Watch Coordinator, introduced the March 7, 2006 program. This is the meeting where the Briarwood Area Neighborhood Association undertook to actually set up its first Crime Watch area according to crime watch rules and procedures set forth by the Little Rock Police Departmentt.
A total of sixteen BANA residents, mostly block captains, attended the meeting.
Presenters were Doris J. Scales, Little Rock Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, and Officer Brian Grigsby of the Little Rock Police Deparment. They distributed a large number of handouts including a Neighborhood Watch manual published by the Little Rock Police Department.
Crime Watch Captains Listened
and Took Notes
BANA Crime Watch Captains and Co-Captains took notes as Ms. Scales went over the basic organization structure, rquirements and procedures of Little Rock's neighborhood crime watch program..
Brady Elemantary is Getting a New Pitched Steel Roof
As shown in the photo to the right, the Brady Elementary School is getting a new blue 'standing seam' steel roof. The pitch is 3-in-12 which should both improve the appearance of the school and also eliminate all leakage. As it is being installed over the old flat roof, the work is being done during the school year without interrupting classes. Completion is expected next month. It is estimated the roof will last for thirty years or more without repair.
Brady Elementary School was built in 1960 and the south annex added in 1963.
Crime Watch Organization
The basic unit of the Crime Watch program consists of the block captain and co-captain who watch ten houses. They meet the people in those houses and get to know them. They also record contact information, the cell phone numbers of the residents and contaact numbers of relatives or friends who can be called in case of emergency. The program should start in a small, contiguous area and slowly spread out from there. 30% Participation is required for an area to be recognized as a crime watch neighborhood.
When residents don't wish to participate in the program, Ms. Scales advised let them be and go on to the next house.
Officer Brian Grigsby Reviewed Crime Prevention Measures for Vacations
The Little Rock Police Department will help protect your home during the time you're on vacation. To get the help, BANA residents should call the Northwest Patrol Substation at 918-3500 and tell them the dates you will be away on vacation.
Police patrols will check your home three times a day, once each shift, at absolutely no cost to you.
Officer Grigsby suggested you be sure to stop delivery of newspapers and mail, notify your neighbors and install a timer to turn lights on and off inside your home while you're away.
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Links to the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition Website
One of the most complete crime watch websites is the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition (Wilkes-Barre, PA). Not only does their site contain excellent explanations and tips, but many pages contain downloadable report forms.
The homepage of this website can be accessed at http://www.wbcrimewatch.org/join.htm