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ELKINS -- The City of Elkins is hoping to unveil a new neighborhood watch program by the end of the year under Police Chief Travis Bennett's direction, officials said.
An Elkins neighborhood watch program began in 2018 but was abandoned during the change-over process from the last police chief to the current one in 2019.
The extensive renovations currently taking place in the Elkins Police Department office have pushed back the planning for a new program, Bennett said.
"Honestly, we're reorganizing everything right now and pretty much as soon as our office is done to where we can get on projects like that, we're going to look at it and revamp it and roll out a new one," Bennett told The Inter-Mountain this week. "Hopefully towards the end of the year, I would say."
An Elkins neighborhood watch program was begun in 2018 under the previous EPD chief, Glenn Galloway. The first meeting, focusing on Fourth Ward and Fifth Ward, took place on Nov. 20, 2018. First Ward was addressed on Feb. 6, 2019 and a Second Ward meeting occurred on May 22, 2019.
Galloway's resignation took effect on July 6, 2019 as he left to take another employment position. Bennett took office on Sept. 20, 2019.
Elkins Mayor Van Broughton said this week he is looking forward to reinstating a neighborhood watch in the city.
"I still urge people to report anything suspicious or concerning in their neighborhoods," the mayor said. "The neighborhood watch is something that (Elkins City) Council, the Public Safety Committee and myself all want to see happen."
"Chief Bennett is also getting his officers in place to be on bike patrol downtown for the spring," Broughton said. "The neighborhood watch will be back as soon as he gets everything in place and we'll have a stronger police presence around Elkins."
Broughton also mentioned that some of the Elkins citizens involved in the previous neighborhood watch program continue to call in to the EPD office and report suspected crimes in their communities.
Sutton Stokes, external affairs specialist for the city, stated that, "If you see illegal things going on or things that you're wondering if they are legal, the police would rather you call than not."
Bennett's direct line is 304-636-1414, ext. 1535. All other calls can be directed to 304-636-0678.
The EPD also has an email address for sharing non-emergency information: elkinspolice@cityofelkinswv.com.
"The police read but cannot always respond to emails sent to this address," Stokes said. "Police also can't supply information about ongoing cases. Also, although information about suspicious activities may help police build a case in the long term, under the Constitution police need probable cause to enter properties or make arrests."