FRANKLIN, Tenn. -
The Franklin Police Department hopes to get more residents involved in neighborhood watch groups. There are nearly two dozen active watch groups that currently partner with police to keep their neighborhoods safe.
Gloria Chatham helped implement her watch group in the Village of Avalon a few years ago.
"It's made us feel very safe and like we are part of the community and the police department," she explained.
Chatham has named several block captains within her neighborhood that keep a watchful eye on any suspicious activity in the subdivision.
"It's made the neighbors more aware of their surroundings and it's helped us stay closer in contact about anything that we should be aware of," she continued.
With more than 62,000 Franklin residents, police say the growing city could always use more eyes on the lookout.
"Everyone needs a nosey neighbor and we want to get all of those nosey neighbors together so they can get to know each other and get to know us," explained Franklin police Sgt. Charles Warner.
Monday night, police will host an informative meeting at the department's headquarters for those who might want to get involved in watch groups.
Neighbors will network, exchange numbers and learn tools to protest their areas.
"It's neighbors meeting neighbors in a form that they otherwise may not have the opportunity. It's getting them all at the same place, at the same time to let them have some face time with each other, let them get on a call list so that when something happens, they work as a network to provide information back to us," Sgt. Warner said.
Monday's meeting is at 6 p.m. The Franklin Police Department is located at 900 Columbia Avenue.
