Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando City Commissioners and Orlando Police Department Chief Val B. Demings on Wednesday recognized the dedicated efforts of nearly 200 Neighborhood Watch Block Captains at the annual Neighborhood Watch Leaders Forum at the Harry P. Leu Gardens.
“The annual Neighborhood Watch Leaders Forum gives the City of Orlando the opportunity to recognize the important role our citizens play in crime prevention and celebrates the positive impact our citizens have made in our community,” said Mayor Dyer. “Active citizen participation in Neighborhood Watch remains one of the most effective ways to keep crime out of our community.”
This is the 26th year that Orlando has recognized its citizens who lead by example and who have directly contributed to the continued success of the Neighborhood Watch program. Neighborhood Watch Block Captains represent approximately 726 streets in the City of Orlando.
The Orlando Police Departments (OPD) Neighborhood Watch Block Captains have made considerable contributions to the City of Orlando. Their dedication has led OPD to place in the top three for the past five consecutive years in the National Night Out crime prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Orlando residents held 96 National Night Out block parties making it a record year for citizen participation.
These efforts along with those of OPD officers and staff have led to an overall 12% reduction in violent crime.
Every year at the event, one Neighborhood Block Captain from each City Commissioner District is recognized as Block Captain of the Year for that district. In addition, one Neighborhood Watch in the City of Orlando is recognized as the Neighborhood Watch of the Year.
This year’s honorees included:
* District 1 Block Captain of the Year – Anslie Lewis
* District 2 Block Captain of the Year – Tom Golay
* District 3 Block Captain of the Year – Vicki Steely
* District 4 Block Captain of the Year – Andy Perry
* District 5 Block Captain of the Year – Tonja Sanchez
* District 6 Block Captain of the Year – Martha Palmer
* Neighborhood Watch of the Year – Dover Shores East, District 2
