MONROE - As he was home recovering from back surgery, Bob Crosse started noticing things that in the past never caught his eye - odd things and people who seemed out of place in the neighborhood.
Then, when some items were stolen from his yard, Crosse decided he wanted his town do something more to prevent crime - rather than just trying to catch offenders after the fact.
"I really love Monroe," Crosse said. "It's a very nice community."
So Crosse began talking with various Monroe officials and leaders, including his alderman, Brooke Bauman, to see if a Neighborhood Watch could be started.
For her part, Bauman said she supports of Crosse's efforts.
"I'm definitely aware there is an issue, not only in our district, but within the city," Bauman said. "Having a Neighborhood Watch is a big deterrent."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said that when Monroe Neighborhood Watch programs were implemented in previous years, they were initially successful. In fact, they have been started on four separate occasions in Monroe over the past two decades, according to the chief.
But too often such programs, he said, were driven by one concern or specific problem and fizzled out over time.
"Once the problem was resolved, the community becomes emphatic again," Kelley said.
Kelley said he'd support a new Neighborhood Watch effort, and hopes Crosse can be the person to get it going.
"I want to be proactive and not reactive," Kelley said.
Crosse said he hopes that the community also sees the need.
"Everyone in the community has a chance to make it (the city) a better place," Crosse said. "I'm just a concerned citizen, trying to see if there is something to do to make it a safer place."
As part of his crime prevention push, Crosse also wants to help provide a place for teens to go rather than the streets, where crime is more likely to occur. Crosse said places such as the local YMCA could offer other special programs and activities targeted to kids and young adults - or perhaps even host a weekly teen night.
"It (crime) happens because they have nothing to do," Crosse said. "It gives them some place to go and meet."
The next step for Greene, according to Kelley and Bauman, is to raise the issue at a future city meeting for possible action by officials.
Then, when some items were stolen from his yard, Crosse decided he wanted his town do something more to prevent crime - rather than just trying to catch offenders after the fact.
"I really love Monroe," Crosse said. "It's a very nice community."
So Crosse began talking with various Monroe officials and leaders, including his alderman, Brooke Bauman, to see if a Neighborhood Watch could be started.
For her part, Bauman said she supports of Crosse's efforts.
"I'm definitely aware there is an issue, not only in our district, but within the city," Bauman said. "Having a Neighborhood Watch is a big deterrent."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said that when Monroe Neighborhood Watch programs were implemented in previous years, they were initially successful. In fact, they have been started on four separate occasions in Monroe over the past two decades, according to the chief.
But too often such programs, he said, were driven by one concern or specific problem and fizzled out over time.
"Once the problem was resolved, the community becomes emphatic again," Kelley said.
Kelley said he'd support a new Neighborhood Watch effort, and hopes Crosse can be the person to get it going.
"I want to be proactive and not reactive," Kelley said.
Crosse said he hopes that the community also sees the need.
"Everyone in the community has a chance to make it (the city) a better place," Crosse said. "I'm just a concerned citizen, trying to see if there is something to do to make it a safer place."
As part of his crime prevention push, Crosse also wants to help provide a place for teens to go rather than the streets, where crime is more likely to occur. Crosse said places such as the local YMCA could offer other special programs and activities targeted to kids and young adults - or perhaps even host a weekly teen night.
"It (crime) happens because they have nothing to do," Crosse said. "It gives them some place to go and meet."
The next step for Greene, according to Kelley and Bauman, is to raise the issue at a future city meeting for possible action by officials.