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Welcome to news of the Bellevue Neighborhood Patrol.
We have a set of current Incident Reports.
Give Your Neighborhood 1.5 Hours a Month
Join the Bellevue Security Patrol and Make a DifferenceOn Jan. 29, 2002 in his first State of the Union address, President Bush called on every American to commit to the “service of your neighbors and your nation.”
A terrific opportunity to get involved exists right here in Bellevue. You’ve all seen the flashing yellow light as your fellow neighbors volunteer one-and-a-half hours each month to serve on the Bellevue Security Patrol. It’s a small contribution of time that makes a big difference in the quality of life we enjoy in our neighborhood.
Crime Happens
Bellevue is a great place to live, but the reality is that we experience a fair number of vehicle thefts and break-ins, as well as home and shed burglaries. Our local businesses have been robbed multiple times, and, on occasion, muggings have occurred.
The Bellevue Security Patrol was set up several years ago by a number of concerned citizens who were determined to make our community a safer place to live. The premise was to alert would-be criminals that Bellevue citizens were keeping close watch over the neighborhood and their neighbors. Neighborhood patrols are an effective crime deterrent in communities across America.
Through the years, the patrol has worked in close cooperation with the Richmond City Police Department, which assists with patrol member training and provides guidance on operating a successful neighborhood patrol program.
The Security Patrol also collaborates with the Bellevue Neighborhood Watch program, which coordinates neighborhood crime alerts through a network of block captains.
Westminster-Canterbury graciously allows the patrol to use its guardhouse to store equipment and serve as the starting point for each patrol. A number of neighborhood businesses provide monetary support and services to help keep the patrol up and running. We also receive financial support from the Bellevue Civic Association and individual donors, which helps the patrol foot the bill for its cell phones, beepers, flashing lights and voice mail service. But we rely on volunteers to get the job done!
We Need Your Help
As with every volunteer organization, the more hands on board, the more successful we will be. Our wonderful volunteers on the patrol—many who’ve been onboard since the patrol’s inception—invite you to join them. More patrols are needed each day and night of the week. We operate four rotating teams (A, B,C, D), allowing new members to choose the time that suits your schedule best. If you have a partner (friend, spouse, significant other), you’re welcome to patrol together. If you want to make a new friend in the neighborhood, we’ll find you a partner. Typically, partners take turns volunteering their car and gas for the 1.5-hour patrol each month.
We ask all new members to attend one orientation session conducted by patrol leaders and the Richmond police. Your patrol captains will also provide “on-the-road” training as needed.
Join Us!
Through the years, Bellevue Security patrol members have helped deter car break-ins, alerted police to suspicious individuals loitering in the neighborhood, ousted a known drug dealer, ensured that broken streetlights were replaced and that potholes were repaired. Last Halloween, our patrollers reunited a lost child with his father. In addition, we operate a community voice mail box (257-9705) to keep our neighbors abreast of recent crime activity.
These are but a few examples of the excellent results we know about—just think about the number of crimes we likely have deterred by being a visible presence in the neighborhood.
For more information about joining the patrol, call patrol chairman Chris Sterling at 266-7496, or vice chairman Winnie Cobb at 264-0959.
You’ll be making a difference in the most important place—your neighborhood!
- The crack dealer at the MacArthur Apartments is history.
- MAD LUV is history.
- Bill and Diana Presson sent a Thank You note.
Follow the links here to the news of
Good News:
- Reconstruction is complete at the abandoned house at 1410 Avondale.
- Great progress at 1603 Claremont.
We have other news (elsewhere):
- Photos from the 1999 Annual Patrol Meeting
- The new Captain (well, Lieutenant) in the Third Precinct
- Collected Crime Data
- The dozen (well, fourteen) highest crime blocks in Bellevue
- The complete list of crime reports by block for Bellevue
- The Bellevue data broken out by day and by hour
- Data regarding the crime epidemic on Chamberlayne Ave.
The Safety Committee pages discuss other efforts the Civic Association is making. The Issues pages have some background about the UCR, crime in Bellevue, and community policing.
Folks interested in the Patrol may wish to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Last updated 02/24/02
Please send questions or comments to John Butcher