"Waste Watch" program helps Phoenix Police keep an eye on crime
Phoenix police have a new partner on the street whose mission is to help protect valley neighborhoods. The community safety program is designed to help police spot suspicious activity.
Public Safety Manager Jack Harris and Waste Management Area Vice President Dan Vermeer announced to the public how the partnership will benefit the community. “Since Waste Management drivers are familiar with their routes and tend to work at night when crime often occurs, it makes them good candidates for spotting suspicious activity,” explained Vermeer.
PSM Harris likened the program to other successful partnerships already in place, such as Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol and the Block Watch programs. Both encourage trained citizens to assist police by being additional eyes and ears regarding suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Harris remarked, “Through November 2009, Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol members have worked nearly 19,000 hours and that means they have saved the City of Phoenix more than $380,000.”
Waste Management is using their own resources to train their drivers; Phoenix police are assisting with training by highlighting cautions, what to look for, and how to report the suspicious or criminal activity.
James Sergeant, the Phoenix facility Waste Management Manager who is the overall training coordinator for the “Waste Watch” program stated, “Our drivers are all on-board with the program. They live in this valley and they, too, care about the safety of their families.”