Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program, which enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.

The Neighborhood Watch program works by neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance. Citizens learn how to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood Watch implements crime prevention techniques, such as home security, Operation ID, and others.

Neighborhood Watch sends a message to potential intruders that homes in your neighborhood are not easily accessible to burglars and that your neighborhood is organized and actively involved in preventing crime in the area.

Neighborhood Watch does not ask that anyone take any personal risk to prevent crime and leave the responsibility for apprehending criminals with your local law enforcement agency.

Following are links to brochures providing Neighborhood Watch tips and techniques. The brochures are in PDF format and viewable through Adobe Acrobat Reader Software. Click here to download a copy.

• How to be Streetwise and Safe
• Residential Security Tips
• Safety Tips for the Holidays
• Vacation Security Tips

Please contact the community resource officer in your area if you would like to set up a neighborhood watch. Our community resource officers are listed below.

Officer David Kusznir, a twelve year veteran officer, will be overseeing the west and south side areas. We are still in the process of setting up his exact office location. Meanwhile, he may be contacted at David_Kusznir@cityoflorain.org or by calling 204-2100. Officer Kusznir is currently a member of our Crisis Negotiations Team He previously spent over eight years as a member of our C.O.P.S. Unit (Community Oriented Policing Squad) assigned to the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Officer Les Palmer has been with our Department for ten years. He originally came to our Department from Connecticut. He will be working with our downtown area & merchants, as well as on the south and east sides of the City. His office will be at Fifth Third Bank, 559 Broadway, 2nd floor. His office number is 246-0035 and his email address is Les_Palmer@cityoflorain.org. Officer Palmer has primarily been assigned to our Patrol Operations Bureau, is a firearms instructor, and former member of the Underwater Recovery Team.