Neighborhood Watch reorganization in Horn Lake

An effort is underway to reorganize a Neighborhood Watch program in Horn Lake.  

An informational meeting to learn more about it is planned for Saturday afternoon, Jan. 22, starting at 2 p.m. The meeting will feature Horn Lake Police Deputy Chief Scott Brown leading the meeting. Brown will provide details on the Neighborhood Watch program, how it works, and how it can be started in Horn Lake.  

According to National Neighborhood Watch, a neighborhood watch program centers of people living in the same area who want to work together with local law enforcement to keep their part of the community safer. 

Bettie Young, wife of Horn Lake Ward 4 Alderman Dave Young, was the driver for having Saturday’s meeting and trying to restart a program she said was in existence at one time in the city.  

“I want the whole community to be involved,” Young said. “If we don’t come together as a unified group it (neighborhood watch) won’t do any good. It’s got to be a community-based effort.  

Young said increasing instances of suspicious activity in her area got her looking for solutions, noting there were drug deals going on in her area. 

“It is not as bad as in Memphis, but we have had some problems,” Young said. “We have had in the past two months people going into other cars, for instance.”

According to Young, a Neighborhood Watch program was started in the city 15 years ago in 2007, but only lasted two years, when the alderman who started the effort passed away.  

Cooperation with and connecting with local law enforcement is key to the success of Neighborhood Watch, Young said. 

“We can not take any action on our part,” Young said. “We are to get a full description as best as we can, write it down, and either call your block captain or call the police department’s non-emergency line and report it. We just want people to be aware.”

Young calls Saturday’s meeting informational only in nature, but hopes it may spur residents to start Neighborhood Watch programs where they live.  She notes that refreshments will be provided and they also plan to give away door prizes. 

For more information, you can check the Facebook page under Events, or call Young at 901-687-8893.