In defense of the Birmingham Citizens Watch Patrol

VaselineMay 31, 2024

0 1 minute read

In defense of the Birmingham Citizens Watch Patrol

Scott Johnson
| Special for the advertiser

Birmingham recently passed an ordinance that would allow residents to volunteer and receive training to patrol neighborhoods and report any criminal activity that occurs. It’s called the Citizen’s Observer Patrol, and it’s based on a model that’s been used successfully in cities across the nation.

These residents will receive city vehicles and items such as T-shirts and caps to identify them as members of the volunteer force. Their role will be purely observational. They will have no powers of arrest, but will simply report what they see to the police.

That plan has raised concerns among some Birmingham City Council members and others about safety and liability. Some of these concerns are understandable, but they are far from insurmountable, and the benefits to the community outweigh what some see as potential pitfalls.

Other observers have ridiculed and dismissed the program, but I think these people may be missing the point.

Is this program a panacea for rampant crime in Birmingham and other cities? No, of course not. Solving crime also means tackling issues like persistent poverty and easy access to guns. She calls for the involvement of state legislators and city officials. But this program is a positive step, and its impact on communities goes beyond fighting crime.

For residents of patrolled neighborhoods, it sends the message that people in the city care and are actively trying to make the community safer for everyone. For the volunteers, it’s a learning experience, a chance to see the desperate conditions people face in the most violent neighborhoods.

A good friend of mine walks through Montgomery’s Westgate neighborhood every Monday night with Faith in Action Peacemakers. These people of different faiths act as “interrupters” with the goal of preventing gun violence by intervening. It’s a bit like the neighborhood watch on steroids. Although Faith in Action is not affiliated with the city, its purpose is similar to that of the new program in Birmingham.

When people get involved and show they care about their city, it enriches everyone. Derisive criticism of these efforts only undermines the effectiveness of a program that can save lives.

Scott Johnson is a resident of Montgomery.

VaselineMay 31, 2024

0 1 minute read

Vaseline

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