Community Watch program set up in Gosport area
By Barry H. Hendrix Managing Editor

Marilyn Williams (above) worked with county crews (left) to place signs in the Gosport community Tuesday. Photos by Barry H. Hendrix

Neighborhood Watch signs, paid for by the Clarke County Sheriff's Department, were being installed Tuesday morning in the Gosport community. Marilyn Williams, director of Community Watch for Clarke County, and employees with the County Road and Bridge Department were placing seven signs. "We pick all roads that lead into the community," she said. "If there is an access road that comes from another area into the community, we post those roads."

The community must elect to join the watch program, then a meeting is held. "They will send notices out to every single person in their community," she said. "Every house gets a notice that there is going to be a hearing about community watch."

Williams has been working with the program through the Sheriff's Department for several years. The Sheriff's Department sponsors a fish fry to kick off the campaign in each community. A community board with officers is established. The board establishes a call sheet for the elderly who live alone.

Members of the community are also offered information on handgun safety, drug awareness and care for the elderly.

The community watch program was established by Williams and Chief Deputy Vergil Chapman. It was based on a program in Mobile. "I got Jack Tillman (a former sheriff in Mobile County) to come up and instruct us on it," she said.

There are seven other watch communities in the county, Williams said. "Sometimes they stay real active. Sometimes when they get the sign, (interest) will sort of fizzle." Williams stressed that she does not run the different community watch programs. The community leaders must be responsible. Williams and the sign crew were also going to install signs in the Bassett Creek community on Tuesday.

Any community interested in the Community Watch program call the Clarke County Sheriff's Department at 1-251- 275-8156.

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