Neighborhood Watch: The Police Department's Second Set of Eyes and Ears

There’s no doubt that the does all it can to prevent crimes and bring criminals to justice – but they can’t do it all themselves.

For the past 25 years, the MFPD has had a helping hand from a group of conscientious residents in the village’s ever-growing Neighborhood Watch Committee.

For this week's Citizen's Academy update, I thought I'd take some time to tell you a little more about this group, which plays a very important role in the village. I'd also encourage everyone to check out at least one meeting, and find a way to get invovled.

The committee holds meetings six times each year, and their next meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday in Village Hall. The meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in getting involved can stop by.

Burglaries and thefts are not a rare event in Menomonee Falls, and incidents like these have been occurring in the village since the committee was founded - and probably before that. Several this year, in and the village a visit on occasion.

Members of the committee receive some informal training about reporting suspicious behavior, and stay alert and vigilant about the comings and goings in their neighborhoods. Their efforts can help police identify suspects quickly, and assist in controlling crime in the community.

A few concerned citizens formed the Neighborhood Watch Committee in 1986 and gathered at to discuss crime after a number of thefts from vehicles occurred in their neighborhood. Since then, the group has grown to 150 block watch groups, which include 4,500 of the approximately 10,000 homes in the village.

Although the police department has more than 50 officers on staff, it’s impossible for them to monitor every street in the 33-square-mile village.

“Neighborhood Watch is meant to be a way to build positive relationships between the police department and citizens,” said MFPD officer Jim Kirchberger, who is also a liaison for the committee.

When residents met for the first meeting in 1986, it was essentially a 20-minute conversation about crime in the area. However, the committee has grown to play several important roles in the community. In fact, the National Sheriff’s Association recognized the Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch Committee in 2009 as the top Neighborhood Watch organization in the United States.

“People from around the country now call our Neighborhood Watch leaders to model their program after ours,” Kirchberger said.

The committee has raised money for a workout room at the MFPD, two Tasers, a MFPD leadership conference and a MFPD motorcycle program. It hosts the annual “National Night Out” event in the village, among many other events. They also honor local youths though several leadership and awards programs.

Most of all, the Neighborhood Watch Committee is bringing neighbors together.

In the age of instant information, the committee is also perfecting its “Notify Me” program, which is a free program that gives breaking crime information via text or email to subscribers.

Although the committee now has 186 block captains in its ranks, there is plenty of room for growth. Bill Schimtz, committee executive board member, said he hopes to get more membership in apartment complexes and among the younger generations. As long as you’re a resident of Menomonee Falls, you can join.