Editor’s note: Today, The DAILY LEADER concludes its seriesof questions and answers with candidates for sheriff. All sixcandidates participated in the survey.

The Neighborhood Watch program has surfaced as acampaign issue in this year’s election? What is your opinion of theprogram that is designed to allow citizens to assist sworn officersin crime prevention efforts?

Robert Berry:

In my opinion, the Neighborhood Watch program has lots ofpotential, but as sheriff I would assign a dedicated officer to theprogram because citizens will not call just any sworn lawenforcement officer when they want to report something. Let’s faceit, people don’t trust all people. This dedicated officer wouldcover the area and build the confidence and trust within the areain order for citizens to become comfortable and at ease inreporting crimes and assisting in the prevention of illegalactivities.

The officer assigned would hold meetings and update citizens onhow to better assist the department with crime prevention and gaininformation on how to better guard themselves from becoming crimevictims.

Lynn Boyte:

Personally and without a doubt this is the most successfulprogram to stop burglaries of homes and personal property.Neighborhood Watch is now the most successful anti-crime initiativein the country and the most effective and least expensive tool forrestoring the safe, pleasant enviroment we all want for ourfamilies. This is homeowner’s insurance that works. This communitybased concept of citizens working together with law enforcement hasbecome the key to preventing burglary and crime nationwide. Ourfirst Neighborhood Watch was formed in 1988, reducing ourburglaries that were averaging 31 per month to an average of sixwithin a six-month period. Neighborhood Watch not only reduced ourburglaries and became eyes and ears for the sheriff department buthad fundraisers that purchased bullet proof vest for our officers,purchased equipment for the department, sponsored the DARE programand purchased and installed the caution lights at all five schoolsin the county. This is another example that proves that whencitizens and law enforcement work together, combine their efforts,another big bite is taken out of crime.

This program was so successful in Lincoln County that thesheriffs from Pike, Walthall, Amite, Jefferson, Copiah, Lawrenceand Franklin Counties ask for my assistance in setting upNeighborhood Watch in their counties.

After 9/11 the U.S. Department of Justice called for thedoubling in the Neighborhood Watch Programs because they had beenso successful in crime prevention. U.S. Attorney John Ashcroftrecognized the potential that Neighborhood Watch could have inHomeland Security and could be an ally in the fight againstterrorism. While the other counties were getting started AttorneyGeneral (John) Ashcroft recognized Lincoln County, Mississippi andSheriff Lynn Boyte for 16 years in Neighborhood Watch.

Terry Harper:

Neighborhood Watch is a great asset to all communities. It playshand-in hand with the drug problem and burglaries. With more peopleinvolved in the program, we can combat the “problems” with betterinformation from the community. The only time that a citizen shouldassist an officer, is if that officer is in trouble and has no backup available at that given time; or is an auxiliary deputy. Imyself have been in the situation where I have had to have the helpof a citizen. It was easier to apprehend the individual with theinformation that I was given by the citizen.

B.W. Pitts:

The majority of crimes are not solved with good law enforcementalone, but with the information given by local citizens. TheNeighborhood Watch is a valuable program for several reasons.

First of all, neighbors are getting to know one another. Second,communities are getting to know their local law enforcementofficers and together this is a great deterrent for would becriminals.

Steve Rushing:

I believe that any program that can get the community involvedin the aid to fight crime is a valuable tool for law enforcement.The Neighborhood Watch program not only helps in the prevention ofcrime, but it also creates an opportunity for the officer to learnabout the people in the different areas of the county. TheNeighborhood Watch program was not being used when I was appointedand I have been working to restore the program.

Gene “Bub” Simmons, Jr.:

Lincoln County and the City of Brookhaven are blessed withprimarily God-fearing folks. Once we have a handle on the drugproblem we will see less and less criminal activity in ourcommunity. Neighborhood Watch can and will be most effective withtrained observers, not folks involved in law-enforcementprocedures. My pro-active approach contained in my “HomelandSecurity Program” fully addresses Neighborhood Watch. Nationwide,Neighborhood Watch is a serious issue, but let’s face it folks,this is Lincoln County. With our deputies doing their jobs, andeach and every person in our community doing their part, we can andwill be effective in curtailing crime.