From: Christopher Rutan
Columbus
Recently, while meeting with city leaders about a new small crime watch group wanting to form, the question was asked, why do you feel you need a crime watch? The members that I attended with also asked about getting a sign.
Often, when you enter a neighborhood you will see either a blue and white sign or orange and white sign stating there is a neighborhood watch in the area. When you start inquiring about the group’s leader, you find out no one is running it, so it has just died off.
I, along with many others, have been able to keep the 9th Street Park Neighborhood Watch, which started in 2010, going for 14 years. While we still keep an eye on crime, there are many other things we need to do as a community to protect one another.
I am a delivery driver, so I am all through out the city and county every day. Recently on Midway Street, I noticed a streetlight that was hanging by the wires and the pole looked like it had been struck by lightning.
I immediately called Duke Energy and made a report. They sent a technician to look at the pole and light and discovered that it was probably a lightning strike. Therefore, they had to replace the pole and the light to secure it from any future damage.
I count it as our job to report streetlights, potholes, damage to roads that count as a safety hazard, missing or bent road signs, unsafe structures after a fire or storm, if additional damage has been done and many other things.
Some of the neighborhood watch signs around Columbus were placed when a crime watch began but is now no longer in play. We need to continue watching out for each other. Anyone that has a passion for helping each other needs to show it. If you must call law enforcement, you may call anonymously. Our local law enforcement says we are their eyes and ears.
Over the last few years, the 9th Street Park Neighborhood Watch has been trying to bring the community back together post-COVID. While some resistance remains, we have been successful in most parts.
We have been operating, mostly online, due to the fears of some, but we will begin having in person meetings again this fall if this is what the community wants.
If you have a suggestion or concern, don’t be afraid to ask or let your voice be heard. If we don’t say something, city/county officials won’t know anything!
