Neighborhood Watch Responsibilities and Expectations

Neighborhood Watch uses two principles: Know your Neighbors and Report Suspicious Activity.

The basic idea is for neighbors to watch out for each other and each other's property. By getting to know your neighbors and their vehicles, you will most likely be alert to suspicious people, vehicles, and/or sounds that could be a sign of criminal activity.


Ada County Sheriff's Office Responsibilities:

  1. Help you get your neighborhood organized.
  2. Attend your organizational meeting.
  3. Pass important information to area coordinators in your neighborhood.
  4. Help with educational neighborhood meetings.

Area Coordinator Responsibilities:

  1. Be the main contact between the Sheriff's Office and your Neighborhood Watch by getting information from the Sheriff's Office and giving it to the Block Captains.
  2. Organize Block Captains to best cover the neighborhood, and recruit replacement Block Captains when positions open up.
  3. Buy Neighborhood Watch signs & install them at each entrance to the neighborhood.
  4. Encourage Block Captains to have biannual meetings with the Neighborhood Watch residents.

Block Captain Responsibilities:

  1. Pass on information received from area coordinator to neighborhood homes.
  2. Meet with neighbors on a semi-annual basis (a Community Resource Officer can make presentations at these meetings or you might have a Block Party).
  3. Distribute Home Security Manuals to each of the neighbors and collect money for the Neighborhood Watch Signs.
  4. Maintain, update and distribute New Neighbor Packets. New Neighbor Packets should contain a cover letter, neighborhood phone and/or email list, and various pamphlets.
  5. Notify Area Coordinator if no longer able to perform Block Captain Duties.

Neighbors' Responsibilities:

  1. Watch out for each other's property.
  2. Report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff's Office.
  3. Know the three neighbors across the street from your home, on each side and the three neighbors behind you.
  4. Have an increased awareness for your neighbors' safety and report suspicious activity to the police.

Questions? Contact Community Service Officer Myrna Harris at (208) 577-3775 or email mharris@adaweb.net.