Who Has Their Eyes on Your Street?

www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com

@BlackhawkLivingCA

By Aaron “Wally” Barger, Resident since 2012

Starting 2019, Blackhawk Neighborhood Watch Block Captains are offering a series of meetings with representatives of the Blackhawk HOA, Country Club, Police Department, Fire Department, and other first responders. We further plan to hold public forums to share security information, earthquake, and fire preparedness strategies, which are useful to our residents. The date of the first meeting will be announced sometime in February.

The Blackhawk Neighborhood Watch Block Captains want to involve local residents in focused discussions regarding public/ private security systems as well as preparation for emergency situations. Public preparedness and security begin with an understanding of who has their eyes on your street. Neighborhood Watch is a way for all of us to join with police and other local services to safeguard our community and property.

During the past year, a number of articles have appeared in Blackhawk Living related to your safety and security. This year, in addition to topical articles, a few formal discussions with residents and experts in law enforcement, private security, fire, and first aid assistance will be offered. Your participation in these discussions will be important because your safety and that of your neighbors will depend, to a great extent, on how effective each of us are in an emergency situation.

Most of us spend very little time on planning for a disaster. However ill prepared or unprepared we are when a crisis occurs, such as the Paradise (Butte) and Ventura County fires last year, quick, initial actions in coping with the unexpected illustrates how important training can save lives and property. Your involvement and the awareness of community leaders as well as police, fire and medical first responders are central to effectively meeting a potential crisis.

As a first step in personal safety, many residents are investing in cameras and motion detection lighting systems for home security and safety. If you have not installed a home security system, you may want to consider this option. You should evaluate the feasibility and costs of installing a security system in your home. For specific questions, contact your local hardware store, electrician, or security installment company. For general questions contact the Blackhawk Police Department at 925-646-2441.

If you have any questions regarding this article, please contact me at aaron.barger@yahoo.com. If you or any of your neighbors are interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch Program, you can contact me or call the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, Crime Prevention Unit, and ask for Christina Lind-Winters at 925-313- 2682 for additional information or to schedule an orientation meeting to form a Neighborhood Watch program in your area.