Hanover Park revives neighborhood watch program

A spike in violent crime in Hanover Park forced the police department to shift strategy in recent months.

Administrators traded in their desks for a squad car, other law enforcement agencies lent personnel and crime-related ordinances were reviewed for toughening.

Now, the Hanover Park Police Department is reviving the neighborhood watch program in hopes residents will do more to aid authorities in preventing and combating crime.

"Citizens are the eyes and ears of the police department and we need them to be partners just as they need us," interim police Chief David Webb said. "We can't be everywhere."

Police are advertising the program and creating a database of residents willing to step up as block captains. Those people will be responsible for organizing and facilitating meetings, recruiting new members and serving as a liaison to the police department.

More than 25 parents signed up to be block captains while registering students at Hanover Highlands Elementary School, Mayor Rod Craig said. Even more agreed to participate in some capacity.

Webb said police will map out where all the block captains reside and recruit in areas that aren't yet covered.

Hanover Park's neighborhood watch program was one of several crime prevention initiatives such as DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) the department eliminated a few years ago in the wake of budget cuts.

The funding still isn't there, but Webb said he felt it was important to respond to residents' call to have an organized neighborhood watch. He has tapped Lt. Mike Menough and officers Cindi Leon and Hugo Villa to run the program.

"It's been on hiatus for a while, but starting it back up is the right thing to do given the issues that have occurred in town," Craig said. "People want to be engaged."

Craig said violent crime in Hanover Park seems to have subsided, pointing to the two-and-a-half months that have passed since four homicides occurred within a two-week span.

"Thinks are nice and quiet right now," Craig said. "It's not a perfect environment, but we've taken extra measures and have received a lot of support to ensure our residents feel safe."

Hanover Park residents interested in becoming block captains can call the police department's new neighborhood watch hotline at (630) 550-5050 or e-mail hpnw@hpil.org.