Crime Watch Committee
CRIME WATCH UPDATE:
Citizen Safety Awareness Program
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department in partnership with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation will conduct a citizen safety awareness program between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at the Lexington County James R. Metts Law Enforcement Complex, 521 Gibson Road, Lexington.
Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said deputies will conduct the safety awareness program in order to teach citizens to be aware of their surroundings at home, at work and inside their motor vehicles. Participants will learn how to defend themselves and escape in the event that they are attacked, including how to deploy a chemical pepper aerosol spray.
The cost for the safety awareness program is $25 per person, Metts said. The $25 fee covers the cost of a safety awareness kit, including a chemical pepper aerosol spray, which will be provided to citizens who enroll in the safety awareness program.
The safety awareness program will be limited to 35 participants, who are age 16 or older, Metts said. Lexington County residents are given preference in enrolling in the program. Citizens can register for the program by calling the Sheriff’s Department Front Desk at (803) 785-2400.
The $25 fee will be due when the safety awareness program is conducted, Metts said. The fee must be paid in cash or by check, with checks made payable to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation. The Sheriff’s Foundation is a non-profit group that supports the mission of the Sheriff’s Department by buying equipment and pay for training that can be difficult to acquire through the governmental budget process.
Crime Prevention Sgt. Diane Paavel will serve as the instructor for the safety awareness program, Metts said. One portion of the class will be taught outdoors, and participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes.
Participants in the safety awareness program will receive a chemical pepper aerosol spray kit, including inert devices that they can safely practice with as well as a device that can disperse an active chemical pepper aerosol spray, Metts said. They will receive hands-on training in deploying a chemical pepper spray. The Sheriff’s Department conducts the class in cooperation with SABRE, a company that manufactures a chemical pepper aerosol spray.
“Our goal is to help citizens be smart, be ready and be alert,” Metts said.
What are the Block Captains duties?
• Block Captains shall compile and maintain a current file of all households on the block participating in the Neighborhood Crime Watch.
• Block Captains shall relay telephone calls from the Neighborhood Crime Watch Chairperson to the participants on his/her block.
• Block Captains shall assist in disseminating information and/or materials to participants on his/her block. Block Captains shall forward to the Neighborhood Crime Watch Chairperson any suspicious activity, vehicles or persons and any crimes committed on his/her block.
• Block Captains shall assist the Neighborhood Crime Watch Chairperson with periodic neighborhood meetings.
