Chief’s Town Hall Features National Night Out Proclamation and Neighborhood Watch Winners
In a crowded auditorium at the Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus, Colorado Springs Police Chief Vince Niski presided over his annual “Chief’s Town Hall,” honoring neighborhood watch winners and announcing this year’s National Night Out.
Chief Niski began the night by reading a proclamation, announcing the first Tuesday in August as National Night Out in Colorado Springs. National Night Out, which has been held annually around the nation since 1984, is a campaign that promotes police/community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. On August 2nd, we are encouraging participants to turn on their porch lights and step outside to meet their neighbors. CSPD command staff and crime prevention officers have been known to stop by and say “hi” at some of the get-togethers. We believe that the better neighbors get to know each other and watch over each other’s properties, the safer their neighborhood will be.
Later during his town hall, Chief Niski honored several neighborhood watch captains who work tirelessly to keep our community safe by organizing their neighborhoods to solve crime. CSPD Block Captain Mrs. Arnold was specifically commended for her efforts in locating critical evidence that contributed to the arrest of a dangerous child sexual predator during Operation Broken Heart, a two-month multi-jurisdictional operation in which 88 dangerous child sexual predators across Colorado were placed in custody.
“CSPD is unable to be everywhere at once — neighborhood watch groups are our eyes and ears in the community. We want to be more aware of what is going on in the community,” said Chief Niski.
The Block Captains of the Year were announced in each patrol division.
Leigh Weston — Gold Hill Division
(Not Pictured)
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Cherry — Stetson Hills Division
Helen McKay — Sand Creek Division
Margie Arnold — Falcon Division
To end the night, Chief Niski outlined the department’s priorities for the year, to include traffic enforcement and crime reduction. Chief Niski and the command staff took time to answer audience questions, many of which involved how the city is continuing to handle the homeless population and how the new camping ordinance is being enforced.
The Chief’s Town Hall gatherings allow the department an opportunity to better connect and learn how to better serve those we have sworn to protect. We would like to thank the community for their thoughtful questions, care, and enthusiasm.
Hear from one of the neighborhood watch captain winners below:
