The June 19 meeting for the HLWA Neighborhood Watch members was well received by the attendees. Police Chief Nick Guerriero was there to discuss the capture of the individual who was wanted for the shooting of two Florida policemen, as well as the home invasion on Platt Hill by a local resident. The Chief described the many details surrounding the hunt and final capture of the individual hiding on the east side of the lake. I am sure the audience was amazed at the amount of manpower called together from various government agencies for the chase and the technical details involved, such as the “spy in the sky” aircraft used in the manhunt. The Chief also provided an update of the local criminal activities in Winsted and around the lake.
Officer Robert Varasconi, Winchester’s Community Relations Officer, provided a brief review and update on the Neighborhood Watch program for those who had not attended a meeting before and reviewed the basic principles of the Neighborhood Watch program. Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that teaches citizens how to help themselves by identifying and reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. It also provides citizens with the opportunity to make their neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. Neighborhood Watch groups focus on observation and awareness as a means of preventing crime, “watching out for each other.” It is not a vigilante organization.
Our next meeting will be scheduled for later this year, and we will notify everyone beforehand. These meetings present lake residents with an opportunity to connect with their local police department and are important to maintain communication with the Police Department. If you haven’t attended a meeting before, try to make the next one. Please call me if you have any questions about the Neighborhood Watch program.
Chief Guerriero has announced his retirement effective September 12, and he will be sorely missed by the HLWA. We wish him the best and appreciate all he’s done for us and the Town of Winchester.