Neighborhood Watch...or no Neighborhood Watch?

I find that case unbelievably sad. Whether it will or should impact neighborhood watches remains to be seen. I'm torn between them serving a purpose and the busybody factor that you mentioned. I suppose a case could be made for both sides but I'm leaning a little more towards the community good that can come from it, current investigation notwithstanding.

I'm going to side with yes, there are benefits. I'm actually the watch captain for our neighborhood. We have an email list and if something happens we need to be aware of, the residents let me know. (for instance, mail theft). I send out an email to the group (I have about 90 emails for the 190 residents), telling of the problem so everyone can be on the lookout. They all email any additional info they may have. The last time, through diligent efforts, the police were alerted when someone saw suspicious behavior and the culprits were aprehended by the police. So far, no one is taking matters into their own hands.  In a former neighborhood watch group, through a phone tree we alerted each other and the police when two men were walking through the area with a leash and no dog. One neighbor called another and so on. When one spotted the men trying to access a home, the cops were called, the culprits caught. It works if you work it.

Dennis * I suspect this will become a liability insurance issue with HOMEOWNER watch members seeing a REMOVAL of liability coverage for such activities.

I am a part of the neighborhood watch in our community, which is not far from where the Martin shooting happened.  We are trained by the local police and Seminole County Sheriff's Office.  We are trained to observe and call the police.  We are not trained to approach anyone. After this case, several of our team members left because they felt since they have concealed weapons permits, they might end up in a similiar situation.

Our neighborhood watch has had amazing results in keeping neighbors aware of strangers, encouraging them to call the police when they see something that doesn't look right, how not to encourage solicitors that may be casing the area, but also to help neighbors out.  I can't tell you how many times I have knocked on a door to let a neighbor know their garage door was open late at night and received lots of thanks for doing so.  We have helped elderly neighbors, watched houses where people were out of town by making sure flyers and newspapers were not left in the driveway and more. 

Our watch team has done a great job of keeping the neighborhood safer!  Don't let one incident ruin the success of neighborhood watches nationwide.

Dennis,

The news media is just plain out of control on this and many things.  There is no fair reporting any more.  Networks just look for ratings and controversary sells. 

Martin didn't deserve to be shot if all he was doing was walking in the subdivision but getting out of the car is not a crime either. The truth is, we'll never know what really happened.  People will listen to "news" shows and form their opinions while disregarding facts.  

As the evidence gets out, rumors will fly, sides will be taken.  I hope peace remains and all the evidence is judged in a court of law. But it won't be. People have to wise up and realize that all these TV hosts are just ratings hounds. Whatever the outcome, we will all have to live with it, just like we have all had to live with the Anthony verdict.  In both cases, it appears that overcharging will be the cause of public outrage. Our justice system works.  Sometimes we don't agree with the verdict but if the standard of proof is not met, not guilty is the right call.

Hopefully, sanity will prevail!