National Night Out brings officers, residents together to seek local solutions

Community policing

Officers Paul Gash, left, and Todd Bickel speak Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 during National Night Out, where neighborhood residents and police officers gathered to discuss crime prevention.
Officers Paul Gash, left, and Todd Bickel speak Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 during National Night Out, where neighborhood residents and police officers gathered to discuss crime prevention.

Members of the Jefferson City Police Department went to neighborhoods around the Capital City on Thursday night to talk about crime prevention in the 33rd annual National Night Out.

Every year, residents and police gather to celebrate neighborhood unity and to strengthen watch groups.

National Night Out involves more than 8,000 communities and more than 28 million people.

"With what's going on in our society today, I think it's very important to have a neighborhood watch," said Bonnie Larkins, a block captain on Carol Street. "We had a bad experience this summer. We had someone drive off with packages that had been left on the front porches at houses in the neighborhood. I saw a man coming to the front door, and if I had not seen him, I would have lost my packages."

After these incidents, Larkins called police and an emergency neighborhood gathering to let people know what was going on.

"If they know you're part of a neighborhood watch, it detours illegal behavior," she said. "I've been in the watch program in this block for six years, and we have 12 houses involved right now. At the emergency meeting in August we had 18 people come out. We all sat around and talked about what we can do. Everybody was glad to know what was going on."

Larkins said after she talked with police, they sent unmarked vehicles to patrol the area.

"What they found were these people were following UPS trucks," she said. "When the driver went away after his delivery, the thieves would go to the porch and hope no one would see them take the packages. Some of the orders taken included medicines.

Larkin feels there needs to be more police officers on the street in Jefferson City.

"It's not their fault," she said. "But, with the amount of thefts we've been seeing lately, I think they need to hire more off them to take pressure of the current officers. One man can't be everywhere."

"It helps if neighbors get to know neighbors and are not just holed up in their houses," Larkins added. "If I see something suspicious, I will call somebody. I want to be safe rather than sorry."

According to Kevin Kempker, JCPD crime prevention officer, events like these are even more important in the aftermath of events such as recent mass shootings and shootings of law enforcement officers around the country.

"The event is designed to encourage creating or reinforcing neighborhood watch programs," he said. "We can never have too many watches. The purpose of neighborhood watch programs is to urge observation and awareness among neighbors. Participants are asked to report suspicious or unusual activity."

Kempker said neighborhood watch members are cautioned not to confront strangers or intercede in suspicious activity.

"We have had some unique ideas come out of these programs," he said. "In a couple of areas, residents have started their own citizen patrol, just walking around and making an outside presence known.

"They carry cellphones so they can call us if they see something suspicious," he said. "These are in areas where there are a lot of children, and families want to make sure they stay safe."

For more information about crime prevention programs, call Kempker at the police department, 634-6400.