Community Outreach

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is a community policing partnership program that rapidly expanded nationwide in the 1970s to combat significant increases in residential crime. Neighborhood Watch depends on citizen involvement to discourage crime and reduce the fear of crime, by taking an active role in immediately reporting to police any unusual activities or suspicious behavior.

Keeping Our Community Safe

LCPD believes that strong Neighborhood Watch programs are beneficial in keeping our community safe. LCPD Community Liaison Officer Charli Velasco can help answer questions and speak at Neighborhood Watch group meetings.

Getting a Group Started

• Speak to the neighbors in your area to discuss interest and plan a Neighborhood Watch "Start-Up" meeting.
• Contact the Community Liaison Officer, Charli Velasco, by email or call 575-741-5895 to schedule the meeting.
• Once the meeting has been scheduled, use your neighbors to promote and stimulate interest in the event.

Requirements

A group must have a Neighborhood Watch "Start-Up" Meeting with the Community Liaison Officer. At the end of the start-up meeting, a Neighborhood watch activation will be completed and signed by the primary and secondary Block Captains. Groups must have a minimum of one meeting per year including the community liaison officer (although more than one meeting a year is recommended). Maintain an open line of communication with the community liaison officer when necessary.

Costs

There are no required costs to start a neighborhood watch group. Once a group is established, the city will install and maintain street-side Neighborhood Watch signage as long as the group stays active. The signs are subject to removal if a group becomes inactive. Additional signage and products are available. Neighborhood Watch products such as the following can be purchased by residents or groups interested in starting or enhancing a Neighborhood Watch program:

• Decals
• Handbooks
• Signs
• Starter Kits
• Stickers

Products can be found on the National Neighborhood Watch Institute website.

Benefits

There are many benefits to participating in a Neighborhood Watch program. Beyond preventing crime and reducing fear, Neighborhood Watch builds pride, forges bonds among block residents, improves citizen/police relations, and can address other block issues and concerns like child safety, youth development, senior citizen welfare and the overall quality of life. 

Education

Participants receive an excellent, on-going education from police on many topics including:

• Basic crime prevention measures to safeguard you, your home and valuables
• Being vigilant, cooperative surveillance and recognizing suspicious activity
• Direct telephone contacts to police agencies
• Experts to speak, instruct or train at your block get together
• Frequent patrol checks on temporarily vacated homes
• How to deal with suspected drug activity
• How to handle city ordinance “nuisance” violations
• How to have graffiti removed or cleaned

Setting up a Neighborhood Watch Program

Residents of Las Cruces, those who reside within city limits, may contact the Las Cruces Police Department for assistance in setting up a Neighborhood Watch program. Community Liaison Officer Charli Velasco will assist in providing information that is helpful in establishing a successful Neighborhood Watch program.

Risk

Also, please remember: You are not being asked to take personal risks. Your participating in a Neighborhood Watch program is to serve as extra “eyes and ears” for the police and each other and to promptly report information on crimes and suspicious activities in your neighborhood.