The Pembroke Fire Hall was the scene of the latest meeting of the Pembroke Community Watch Program which saw at least 40 local residents come out to voice their opinions and learn about recent developments.
Hosted by Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah and Pembroke Mayor Gervais, the meeting featured guest speaker Bennet Blackwell from Crime Stoppers who was there to augment the Community Watch discussions with reminders about how the Crime Stoppers program works.
Attendees were reminded that every call or web submission of a crime tip is 100% anonymous so no one should ever be concerned about retaliation from the criminal involved. Shawn Peever from the OPP echoes this sentiment:
In order for a block or neighborhood to formally become part of a neighborhood watch program, complete with signage and stickers stating so, 51 per cent of that neighborhood has to be onboard. The boundaries of a ‘neighborhood’ are defined by its participants; it can be a street, a block, a neighborhood, whatever the residents that are participating feel is reasonable for them.
Mayor Gervais commented that there is much work to do and not all crime is the product of drug use or poverty:
There is, however, a glimmer of hope that Gervais also shared with the group:
The next meeting is scheduled for September 22nd at The Pembroke Fire Hall. For more information, please contact the Pembroke Community Watch Program by email at pembrokecwatch@gmail.com or by phone at 613-735-6821 ext. 1345.
(Written By: Richard Evans)