A Neighborhood Watch is a group of neighbors who are willing to communicate with each other and pass along crime and non-crime related information. The groups are educated in crime prevention and are trained to observe the activity and report such activity to each other and to the police. This training is done at regularly scheduled quarterly sessions attended by the Block Captain and other key members of the committee. The Block Captain also receives information from the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Falcon Substation’s Crime Prevention Officer and Neighborhood Resource Officer, regarding criminal activity and crime patterns in our area. All concerns or questions should be directed through the Block Captain to members of the Police Department. An ongoing crime should be handled directly with 911 by the crime victim or crime observer.
The GTSHOA Neighborhood Watch Committee consists of a Chairperson, who is the registered Neighborhood Watch Block Captain (with Colorado Springs Police Department), the Board Liaison (who usually acts as the Chairperson), and members of the GTSHOA who sign up at the annual meeting. The Block Captain will assign four area group leaders to oversee a group of buildings. The GTSHOA members can then report any issues to their area captain or Block Captain. The Block Captain or board liaison reports to the board at the monthly meetings.
The Neighborhood Watch Committee organizes a yearly event in connection with National Night Out (on the first Tuesday in August) that includes a social element and an educational element. The Neighborhood Watch Committee has a small budget with which to hold the National Night Out event. Receipts should be turned in by the Block Captain/Chair to the Treasurer for reimbursement.
We are one of the largest groups in the Colorado Springs Neighborhood Watch Program, by virtue of being a consolidated area of approximately four (4) city blocks. We need to all come together to help keep this a safe and happy community to live in.