By Staff
LANSING – Van Buren County's 313-member Columbia Township Neighborhood Watch Team has been selected the 2006 Michigan Citizen Corps Team of the Year for its work in crime reduction.
Team of the Year, announced Monday, is given annually by Citizen Corps, an organization that coordinates volunteer activities to make communities safer and better prepared to respond to the threats of crime, terrorism and disasters of all kinds.
Sgt. Kevin Sweeney of the Michigan State Police recently presented a plaque to Watch Team representatives during a Van Buren County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Since 2003, the Watch Team has worked side by side with deputies to decrease breaking and entering crime in Columbia Township from 15 a month in 2003 to less than two per month in 2005.
Besides 313 members, the Watch Team boasts 17 block captains and five marked patrol vehicles.
The team meets monthly and continuously offers training to members in such areas as disaster preparedness, fire safety, basic first aid, disaster psychology and light search and rescue.
"The Columbia Township Neighborhood Watch Team demonstrates impressive citizen involvement toward insuring a safer and better prepared community," said Capt. Eddie Washington, commander of the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. "Citizen Corps relies on volunteerism to improve awareness and safety.
"I commend these residents for their hard work and dedication."