Citizens don't need to volunteer their time to a formal police department program to help the agency and to prevent crime. About 70 neighborhoods in the City of Fort Myers have successfully organized Neighborhood Watch groups, which utilize residents to watch out for one another.

Neighborhood Watch groups are coordinated by the residents, but work closely with the agency's community policing officers and crime prevention specialists.

The goal is to encourage residents to get to know one another so it's easier to spot suspicious activity in their neighborhood.

Neighborhood Watch groups also coordinate successful programs such as cleanup days to help make their neighborhoods better places to live.

Although Neighborhood Watch groups are citizen- driven, the agency assists residents in establishing a group and providing speakers for meetings. Ms. Gretchen Lorenzo coordinates the initiation of a new group. The agency's community policing coordinators also work closely with residents both to start a new watch and to support residents after a group becomes active.

To start a new Neighborhood Watch in your community, call Ms. Lorenzo at 332-6376.