It’s a given that law enforcement can’t be everywhere all thetime.

But everywhere there are people who can be of assistance to lawenforcement.

Such is the purpose behind Neighborhood Watch, a program thatenlists the eyes of the community in an effort to deter and preventcrime.

Neighborhood Watch has been in Lincoln County for many years, withsome programs thriving and others waxing and waning based oncitizen interest and law enforcement’s promotion of the program.Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing has been working toreformulate programs in the various rural areas of thecounty.

Now, following concerns about increased crime, Brookhaven citizensare taking more of an interest in Neighborhood Watch and thecreation of watch areas inside the city.

To that end, Rushing and Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson willmeet Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the First United MethodistChurch Ministry Center to discuss and provide information onforming Neighborhood Watch programs. Citizens will then have theopportunity to take that information back to their individualcommunities to designate and form watch areas.

We all wish programs like Neighborhood Watch or CrimeStoppers wouldbe unnecessary. But as Bob Dylan sang, “The times, they area-changin’.”

In her Friday “My Turn” column, Alderman at Large Karen Sullivanlamented the changing times, the fact that doors can no longer beleft unlocked and that more precautions against crime must betaken. Sullivan and Ward Four Alderman Shirley Estes have beenworking to implement Neighborhood Watch programs in the city.

“We have begun to realize that defense is only one way to combatcrime. The police department performs admirably in its mission tokeep our streets and neighborhoods safe, but we all must do ourpart as well,” Sullivan said. “The time has come when we can nolonger leave our responsibility for the reduction of crime to thepolice department. It is time to play offense.”

While law enforcement remains to do the “heavy lifting” ofpatrolling, catching criminals and making arrests, citizens can goon the offensive by being alert to suspicious activities andgoings-on in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood Watch provides aformal avenue to report those suspicions to law enforcement andhopefully ensure safer neighborhoods for all.

For Brookhaven citizens, Tuesday’s meeting represents the firststep in a formulating a more well-rounded game plan for crimeprevention.