On Tuesday, October 12 around 18 citizens met at the Menard Bank Community Room for a follow up meeting for the Menard Community Watch. The purpose of this meeting, hosted by Deb and Gary Roberson, was to get feedback on the first meeting that was held on August 10th at the Community Center, to report on raffle ticket sales, and to discuss planning a neighborhood watch program in Menard.
Since the first meeting that was held on August 10, Roberson Land Co. (Gary Roberson and Clint Roberson) has sponsored a raffle for a Ruger Max 9, named the Conceal Carry Pistol of the Year for 2021. The proceeds for the raffle will purchase thermal vision equipment that will record, as well as shoot stills, and magnify images to the power of 20, for the Menard County Sheriff Department. At one time, the Menard Sheriff’s Office had access to such resources by collaborating with the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Forces and other specialized groups that would come work drug cases in Menard County. Currently, those resources are unavailable, as they are busy tending to the border crisis. Gary Roberson was able to use his business connections to reduce the price of the technology for our Sheriff’s Office. Raffle tickets are available at Kothmann’s, Wagner’s, Compton Warehouse, Burnham Brothers, Higginbotham’s, and Menard Bank. Tickets are $5 or 5 for $20. The winner will be drawn at the Chamber of Commerce Hunter’s Blowout on November 6.
One of the takeaways from the first meeting was citizens requesting more communication from the Sheriff Department. Since the meeting, the newspaper has gained access to a weekly sheriff’s office blotter and have been publishing it. The SO has also been cooperative sharing information, via the newspaper, regarding wrecks and other incidents within the county. Many community members have voiced their appreciation of the increased information.
One meeting attendee questioned whether there are enough street lights, he thought possibly adding more street lights, might help deter crime. City Councilman Tyler Wagner spoke on the city’s commitment to replacing all street lights with more efficient, brighter LED lights and that there were no plans on adding lights at this time, but could be looked into. If the city were to put in additional lighting, it would have to be budgeted out of tax money during the next budget cycle. If there is an area that could use a street light, contact City Hall to have the area checked out. If there is a damaged street light or one that is not working properly, please contact City Hall to report it 325- 396-4706. Wagner did say that he added a street light at his office and is charged around $20 per month for the additional lighting from AEP. Adding additional lighting around your home or business through AEP is an immediate option by contacting AEP at 877-373- 4858.
Attendees voiced concerns that it seemed like often times deputies sit at the bridge looking for traffic violations, but never patrol city streets. Digging into this observation a little deeper revealed that there are in fact officers on duty at certain times, tasked with just that, traffic violations. To be clear, not all deputies are tasked with only traffic duty, but the observation is correct, at some times, there are some officers who are tasked solely with traffic violations.
The bulk of this meeting was spent learning about what it takes to develop a Neighborhood Watch and what types of information would be helpful for citizens to gather for the sheriff’s department. Deputy Burl Hagler said, “Be the eyes and ears and the sheriff’s office will be the hands.” Basically meaning, if you see something suspicious, call it in. Let the SO investigate further, but call it in so there is a record of the activity. Seeing Joe Blow walk down the street a 2 a.m. tonight, isn’t necessarily a crime, however when Mr. Jones reports his tools missing a few days later, and he lives a block away form where you saw Joe Blow walking, the SO at least has a direction to look in. The SO would like any reckless behavior, suspected DWI, assaults, abuse of any sort, dangerous activity, and other things of that nature called in to 911. Suspicious persons, suspicious cars, people at businesses after hours, people driving around at 2 a.m., vehicles with out-of-state tags in neighborhoods, vehicles at the park or stock pen crossing in the middle of the night, and things of that nature can be called in to the non-emergency line at 325-396-4705.
If it looks off or you can’t explain the behavior, it does no harm calling the nonemergency line and having dispatch log the complaint and pass it along to whoever is on duty. Make sure to call in suspicious acts at the time they happen, it does no good to tell a deputy days later that a strange person was walking through your yard; make the report when the odd behavior is happening. Don’t be afraid to call it in, even if it’s your neighbor or relative, sometimes tough love is needed to stop crimes.
Officers do not want citizens pursuing criminals on foot or in a car chase, trying to actively stop a crime from happening by interfering, or making “citizens arrests.” Doing any of the above could put the well-meaning citizen in danger and create more of a problem. Relaying information and having a visible, vigilant presence will help the officers more than anything.
The first step in starting a community watch is to start informational meetings and gauge interest, which we are doing. The next step is to speak with your neighbors and visit about watching each other’s property and to get on the same page regarding what to do if something suspicious is seen. Some neighbors may not be receptive and may not want neighbors “in their business,” but the majority will be. Communication is key. Hosting a neighborhood block party or a community block party to get everyone on the same page could also be helpful. The next step is to set up a more formal watch system with team captains. The team captains will organize “patrolling” by citizens in the neighborhood watch and meet with the liaison to the sheriff’s office. Granted, formal daily patrolling will likely never take place in a community the size of Menard, but some sort of scheduled presence can be put in place. The next meeting is set for November 16 at 6 p.m. at the Menard Volunteer Fire Department. Roberson hopes to have more in attendance on November 16, with everyone from this meeting speaking with their friends and neighbors about attending and about the proposed neighborhood watch program. The hope is to name Team Captains and put together a core group responsible for working with the sheriff’s office and citizens to develop a patrol schedule.
Roberson ended the meeting thanking everyone for their interest and attendance and saying, “Visit with your neighbors, pray for your enemies, and see you on November 16 at the fire department.”