Shomrim (volunteers)
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Shomrim organizations are volunteer civilian patrols which have been set up in many Jewish neighbourhoods to combat quality-of-life nuisance crimes.A number of neighbourhoods in New York have Shomrim patrols. They work closely with local police departments, who issue Shomrim members with official identification cards as members a registered civilian patrol. Shomrim also acts as a liaison between the police and the local community and help by testifying as witnesses or assist complainants to get to court.
As a result of such patrols criminals are more likely to be apprehended. This in turn leads to a lower level of criminal activity in the area. Brooklyn police credit Shomrim patrols with playing a key role in reducing crime.
[edit] Midwood Shomrim
Midwood is a neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York. The Midwood Shomrim patrol began when 23-year old Flatbush resident Chaim Deutsch was inspired by other volunteer patrols in adjacent neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
The Midwood Shomrim patrol covers 40 blocks. Volunteers who wish to join are screened by checking references and interviewing members of the community who might know the candidate. All volunteers must commit to patrol at least once a week and to be on radio call.
Midwood Shomrim works closely with the 63rd and 70th police precincts. Midwood Shomrim members also monitor the courts. In addition, Shomrim leaders ask elected officials to put pressure on judges to impose maximum sentences allowed by law for repeat offenders.
According to Chaim Deutsch, residents feel safer walking the streets in the evening and parking their cars as compared with with a few years ago when their community was plagued with break-ins.
[edit] References
- Community Residents Lead the Way to Safer Neighborhoods
- Relations between Shomrim and police
- Baltimore Shomrim
