WOW, Being involved with the neighborhood watch and speaking with the Cottonwood Heights Police as they explained to us what proactive policing is. We figure that along with the Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch we can all but get rid of what is called crimes of opportunity.

Crimes of opportunity is when a crime takes place that if the opportunity were not there, it more than likely would not have happened.

There seems to be mixed feelings about the police knocking a door and letting the folks know there door is open. From what I can see those that have had this service provided to them are not the ones complaining.

I read on one blog I won’t give the guy any traffic so I am not posting his address. He quotes Channel 5 and then calls it “Big Brother” and “Offensive Policing”. He goes on to quote the police department as saying “tell them to close their garage” Here is the link from channel five’s web site, “Hi! I’m just letting you know that your garage door is open,” Garcia told a homeowner…

That is a far cry different then telling someone to close their door. Then this writer talks about the 4th amendment, Oh puleeze. The 4th amendment “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” this is a neighborly thing.

I have told Assistant Cheif of Police Paul Brenneman he can have a clicker for my garage to feel free and shut it.

This write goes on to say “Nonetheless, it is unreasonable for an officer to interrupt my reading, watching TV, making love, or my night sleep-don’t want it.”

Cottonwood Heights
Neighborhood Watch
NOT Patrol

In light of the incident that happened in Bluffdale where nieghborhood watch went out on patrol and wound up in a shooting incident. First and Foremost The Cottonwood Heights Police Department does not support citizen patrols (especially armed citizen patrols) as part of the Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch Program and asks participants to be the eyes and ears of the police department and report all suspicious activity to dispatch.

Here is part of an email sent out by one of Neighborhood Coordinators Al Haslam

I believe it is urgent that you know the following.  Block Captains and other members of the Neighborhood watch are to observe and report only. If you see a possible crime being committed, and if it is a non-emergency call the Cottonwood Heights Police at 801-840-4000. If it is an emergency call 911.  Do not approach the suspect (s).Do not carry a weapon. We are not trained to enforce a law, only to observe and as necessary, report.

Thanks Al