NYSSA – Catherine Davis believes neighbors should look after each other.
That’s one of the reasons that the Nyssa resident decided to organize a Neighborhood Watch.
“I am safety oriented,” said Davis.
Davis said she was also concerned about “real and current events that have been going on for the past two years.”
“And big city crime coming to rural areas. I just things are changing in America,” said Davis.
Davis approached Nyssa Police Chief Don Ballou about the idea earlier this year.
“He said, ‘sure,’” said Davis.
Davis said she then developed a plan.
“I put some fliers out and (Nyssa resident) Mary Shelton was really helpful in getting fliers out and talking to business owners,” said Davis.
The new Neighborhood Watch is still in its preliminary stages, said Davis, but she hopes the idea will gather momentum.
Neighborhood Watch is a volunteer effort comprised of local residents who live in the same area who work with local law enforcement to lower crime. Neighborhood Watch groups meet on a regular basis and coordinate with police to report suspicious activity or people in a specific area of town.
Davis said there have been several meetings of local residents at the Nyssa Chamber of Commerce and the Nyssa Senior Citizen Center to plan a watch program.
“We need more citizen participation to become organized,” said Davis.
Attendance at the meetings varied over the past six months, said Davis.
“Some meetings we have nine or ten people then one meeting we had 20-plus people,” said Davis.
Ballou said a Neighborhood Watch in Nyssa is not a new concept. About 20 years ago, he said, the town had one and “I’d love to see it again.”
Ballou said a spate of thefts in town early in the spring prompted interest in the program for some.
Ballou said while the police department would not directly oversee Neighborhood Watch, his agency would coordinate with the group.
“Once we get enough interest, they can establish a point of contact and work with us and we’ll go from there,” said Ballou.
Davis said the next neighborhood watch meeting will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Nyssa Library.
“It is pretty much them trying to organize and get people together,” said Ballou. For more information interested individual can contact the Nyssa Police Department at 541-372-3825.
News tip? Contact reporter Pat Caldwell at pat@malheurenterprise.com
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