Woodward Community 1/24/09

I visited the Woodward Community Neighborhood Watch last Saturday. It was a rainy morning and I wasn't sure if they would still have the meeting. But I drove out to the community, a more established area along Old National Highway, because I was invited by their president Kimberly. The rain stopped about 5 minutes before the 12pm meeting was to start at the intersection of Old Rocky Rd. and Topaz Trail. The location and setting is significant to me because there were about 15 members of this neighborhood who came to a meeting in inclement weather to discuss issues affecting their neighborhood and they don't even have a neighborhood clubhouse.

Members of the Fulton County police attended the meeting also. Officer Eric Rosser who regularly patrols the area, and two other officers a Lieutenant and Captain respectively attended. The officers provided crime statistics and suggestions about how to reduce crime. The area where we were meeting was an intersection but it was also connected to a road (kind of a Y shape area) which was a dead end. The dead end led to a trail that several neighbors reported was the source of much of the crime in the area including assaults, drug transactions and an escape route for thieves. The trail actually crossed several neighborhoods and poured out to a shopping center along Old National Highway anchored by Walmart. I offered that the neighbors could contact the builders of the neighboring development of Woodward Hills townhomes. If the owner could fence their land, then it would block people who use the trail from passing through their neighborhood. While we were meeting, very suspicious-looking characters considered to use the trail and saw the presence of law enforcement and were deterred.

This community utilizes a very active website which now posts photographs of criminals who have committed crimes in the area. The residents who operate their neighborhood site obtain the photos from the Fulton County Sheriffs department after the arrests are made. The records are public for all adult arrests. This information is useful for residents when they can review the sight and compare the information to suspicious characters they may see walking around their neighborhood. I feel like they have the right idea and just need to reach a greater number of neighbors to regain the safe neighborhood they desire. But I think we can all take something away from the good things they are doing in the Woodward community. We all have to watch out for each other, and don't hesistate to all 911 for suspicious characters.