October is National Crime Prevention Month. In the District of Columbia, police and community leaders this month are focusing on Neighborhood Watch as a strategy to both combat crime and make communities better prepared for emergencies.

To support these efforts, the Metropolitan Police Department, in conjunction with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), is launching a new Neighborhood Watch manual and other resources to assist DC communities in creating, expanding and sustaining Neighborhood Watch programs. The MPDC’s “Organizing and Sustaining a Neighborhood Watch” manual, as well as other tools and resources from the NCPC, will be introduced to the community during a news conference on Tuesday.

What	Launch of MPDC's new Neighborhood Watch manual
When	Tuesday, October, 10, 2006, 9 am
Where	Regional Operations Command - North 801 Shepherd Street, NW - Community Room Washington, DC
Who	Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey Al Lenhardt President and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council Willard Poteat Hillcrest Community Civic Association Other community leaders McGruff the Crime Dog
Contact	Jeff Marootian, MPD: (202) 727-8727 Kevin Morison, MPD: (202) 727-9346

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention strategy that focuses on looking out for the personal safety and property of neighbors in an organized and sustained manner.  In addition, Neighborhood Watch has become an important component of emergency preparedness. By organizing a Neighborhood Watch effort, community members can be better prepared to communicate effectively during the most urgent situations, as well as on a day-to-day basis to enhance neighborhood safety. 

In addition to distributing the manual, the MPDC is also offering training and technical assistance to communities interested in creating or expanding Neighborhood Watch efforts. For more information, visit www.mpdc.dc.gov/watch.