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| Ross
Mason photo |
Christian
Wittenberg, chairman of Tramonto’s Neighborhood
Watch, and Officer Sue Maya of the Phoenix Police
Department with Wittenberg’s “patrol” car, his
personal vehicle, which will be patrolling neighborhood
streets.
(Click
picture for full size image) |
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Hoodlums
beware: Tramonto residents ready to rumble
by Jennifer Krahe
TRAMONTO
– Christian Wittenberg’s neighbor was shot in the
foot one night two weeks ago by a thief who was
trying to steal his car–yet another incident illustrating
the North Valley’s rising
crime rate. Now, with Wittenberg’s help, a Neighborhood
Watch program is taking shape in Tramonto. And volunteers
are needed.
At
the helm is Wittenberg, who was asked by Tramonto
Homeowners Association directors to assume the position
of chairman of the neighborhood watch.
“I’ve been very busy the last couple of months,”
Wittenberg says. In June, he secured a grant for
permanent signs in Tramonto that read: “This area
is protected by Neighborhood Watch and Operation
Identification.” An Internet site will be online
in July with specific information about security
issues and events in the community, and regular
informational meetings will be held to maintain
contact with residents.
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The
Tramonto watch program is two‑pronged: the community
has begun a Block Watch in conjunction
with a chapter of the Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol.
As
part of a block watch, residents are trained to recognize
and report suspicious activity – and to implement home
security techniques. They become the police department’s
“eyes and ears,” and observe their street and neighbors’
homes from their own property .
They are never asked to take risks–only to report
unusual activity or suspicious persons. The responsibility
of apprehending criminals is left to the police.
Phoenix
Neighborhood Patrol (PNP) is a little more involved, with
trained volunteers patrolling neighborhood streets in
their own vehicles. Participants must be at least 18 years
old, possess a valid driver’s license, and complete mandatory PNP training. A background check is
also conducted. The patrol is made up of residents, not
police officers or police department volunteers, and members
have no powers of arrest beyond that of a private citizen.
They are trained for observation purposes only. PNP is
overseen by the Phoenix Police Department, and the Tramonto
patrol will be working specifically with the Cactus Park
Precinct.
The
next PNP course will be held July 15, consisting of eight
hours of training in the areas of patrol procedures, observation
skills, the 9‑1‑1‑ system, reporting
techniques, confrontation avoidance and safety practices.
Interested parties should e‑mail tramontoneighborhoodwatch@
yahoo.com.
