Learn how to be the eyes and ears of your community at a training class in Whitestone this Saturday.
On Feb. 10, the Whitestone Library will host an NYPD Block Watcher training class at 10 a.m. The annual event is organized by the We Love Whitestone Civic Association and the 109th Precinct.
The class will teach attendees how to provide police with complete and useful information in the event of an emergency situation in their neighborhood. After training, each participant is given a block watcher identification number, which should be referenced when reporting a crime or dangerous conditions to authorities when calling 911 or 311.
Training takes approximately two hours and there is no enrollment fee or commitment after completion. Certification expires every two years and participants in the program remain anonymous.
According to NYPD Shield, many participants of the Block Watcher program are elderly or disabled and “make their observations without venturing far from their homes.”
Those interested in participating should email events[at]welovewhitestone.com, subject line “NYPD Block Watch Class,” and include their full name, email address, telephone number and whether or not they have taken the class before. Individuals who send the email will then be contacted with the latest information.
The Whitestone Library is located at 151-10 14th Rd. Space is limited; interested parties should contact the civic group as soon as possible.
