Press Release

GREENSBORO COMMUNITY WATCH CONTINUES TO GROW
Citizen Run Program Connects Community Watches All Across Greensboro

 Greensboro, NC (July 20, 2009) - The Greensboro Community Watch (GCW) was formed just over four months ago and has now successfully connected more than 100 community watches (represented by 141 members) throughout Greensboro.

“I’m really happy with how the program has grown and that so much information has been shared,” said Ryan Shell, founder of the Greensboro Community Watch. “We have now connected communities all throughout the city and are proactively sharing information in an effort to curb crime in Greensboro. As I’ve said before, the Greensboro Police Department can arrest people all day long, but our goal is to get ahead of the crime wave and prevent as many incidents as possible by uniting together and sharing information citywide.”

Those taking part in the GCW see it as a valuable program for the community and a great way to stay informed with criminal activity around the city, and more importantly closer to their home.

“It’s a vital tool; a one stop shop for all communities to forward growing crime issues in their areas,” said Dee Chen, a member of the program. “If it wasn’t for GCW I don’t think information would be getting around so quickly.  I look forward to my weekly emails from Ryan and share them with my community on a regular basis. I’m glad someone took the time to link communities together, but I’m not sure why it took this long.”

From the start, the GCW has had the backing of the Greensboro Police Department.

“This is a great form of community policing,” said Tim Bellamy, Greensboro’s chief of police.  “We can track down criminals all day, but the key to reducing crime is the preventative measures that can be put in place.  The concept of the Greensboro Community Watch will create awareness of what is happening all across the city and bridge gaps between young and old, rich and poor.” 

The simplistic structure of the program makes it essential that members take part. When a particular incident happens in a member’s neighborhood they submit the info to report@greensborocommunitywatch.com. Shell compiles the information at the end of each week and distributes it via the “The Weekly Wrap-up.” To find out if your community watch is represented or to join, visit www.greensborocommunitywatch.com.

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TV Coverage

Press Release

Greensboro, N.C. (March 16, 2009) - Crime.  It doesn’t discriminate and it happens in all parts of the city.  For years, residents of Greensboro have been proactively taking part in community watches and looking out for the area in which they live.  Unfortunately, even the most active watch typically stops once you get to the end of a neighborhood, and a new one might start somewhere down the road leaving a gap in the communication process.  Ryan Shell, a community activist, is launching the Greensboro Community Watch (GCW) in an effort to bridge this gap and to create a channel for critical information to be shared amongst residents.

“I’ve headed up the Southside Community Watch for just over a year now, and have had the opportunity to see how neighbors can successfully work together to reduce criminal activity,” said Shell.  “The one gaping hole that I’ve noticed is that a line of communication between the various watches is virtually nonexistent.  There is a clear opportunity to take our fight against crime one step further, and I believe the Greensboro Community Watch is that answer.”

Initially, Shell is urging neighborhood leaders and current community watch leaders to sign up for the program. To get started, simply visit GreensboroCommunityWatch.com and complete the short registration process.  Once individuals are signed up they will receive a welcome message that further explains how the process works, more importantly, how to report incidents happening in their respective neighborhood.

“I will distribute weekly emails, or as needed, to residents alerting them of trends that are being seen around the city,” said Shell.  “Crime tends to go in waves and if we can get ahead of those waves then a real difference could be made.”

The GCW will also have District Captains that will be very similar to that of typical community watch Block Captains.  Individuals interested in being a District Captain should contact Shell via the GCW Web site.

“This is a great form of community policing,” said Tim Bellamy, Greensboro’s chief of police.  “We can track down criminals all day, but the key to reducing crime is the preventative measures that can be put in place.  The concept of the Greensboro Community Watch will create awareness of what is happening all across the city and bridge gaps between young and old, rich and poor.”

To be clear, the Greensboro Community Watch does not intend to, and will not replace current community watches; it will simply be a resource that connects watches all throughout the city.

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