A Guide for Forming a Safe Neighborhoods Group

A community-led effort by residents of Brattleboro             

Goal: This webpage provides Brattleboro communities with strategies to preserve drug-free safe neighborhoods from lessons we have learned. We strive to use increased public awareness about drug problems, to facilitate cooperation among citizens and town and state officials, to rid our communities of this real threat to the well-being of everyone. Illegal drug dealing poses wide-ranging dangers to the town, the region and the state.
                                                                

Preamble: Some guiding concepts if you want to help make your neighborhood safer

1.  All actions should be in collaboration with YOUR neighbors and town officials for greatest chance of success.

2.  Look at town officials as allies, since all Brattleboro officials have been supportive and some very proactive.

3.  See ourselves as part of a larger “town team,” as numerous other neighborhoods are victims of the drug trade.

Some Practical Steps

1.  Establish a neighborhood group with a watch and communication system. For example, create a new email account and a Google Group to communicate with. It’s best that the new accounts are anonymous unless your group is very small and you know each individual involved. Learn more about Google Groups and how to find or join a Google Group. 

2.  Recruit citizens: Write a one-page leaflet about the problem and leave it at all the houses in your neighborhood.

3.  Create a name for your group and establish a steering committee of “do-ers” to develop strategies and implement actions.

4.  Always work closely with law enforcement; get confirmation from our police department that a drug operation has moved into your neighborhood. Share all information with the Brattleboro Police Department.

5.  Trespassing and/or undue activity: watch for late night or unusual foot and auto traffic to one particular house or building; always report to PD.

6.  Theft: Watch for break-ins of homes and autos, always report to PD.

7.  Take pictures carefully or write down numbers and descriptions of cars and license plates and pass these onto PD.

8.  Concerns about anonymity: These drug operations are serious illegal businesses with criminal intent. Only do what you are comfortable with, don’t challenge the dealers or those that visit them. Stay safe by working as a group, not as an individual.

9.  You can report information to PD via the anonymous ‘tips line’ (802-251-8188) or directly and identify yourself (802-257-7950.) It’s always worth a call to either number. We become vital eyes and ears and improve the police department’s efforts to help us.

10.  Create a comprehensive e-mail list of town officials with a separate Selectboard list. Do not include cell numbers.   

Due to Open Meeting laws, and the potential for an inadvertent violation of them, there should be no “Reply All” responses as that may be construed as an unwarned meeting of the Selectboard. Therefore, when corresponding with members of the Selectboard, the member should be contacted individually. You can email individual Selectboard members directly and copy emails to the Town Manager. If group emails are to be used, it should only be used to send information, and not as a way to discuss a matter.

•  Town Manager, John Potter, townmanager@brattleboro.gov 

•  Chief of Police Norma Hardy, police@brattleboro.gov, norma.hardy@vermont.gov 

•  Elected local Vermont legislators

•  Windham State’s Attorney Stephen Brown, 802-257-2860

•  Vermont State Police, Westminster Barracks - Troop B

11.  Consider contacting advocacy groups such as Turning Point and Groundworks to see if they can collaborate.

12.  There are non-threatening things each community can do:

•  Put up signs such as: “Neighborhood Watch,” “No Trespassing,” “If I don’t call the police, my neighbor will,” “Drugs and drug use are not welcome here.”  

•  Put up motion detection lights and/or cameras.   

13.  Get an attorney: Pro bono? Is there an attorney in your neighborhood?

14.  Identify the owner/landlord of the drug house. Here, town officials and an attorney can help. Put the owner/landlord “on notice” with a certified letter and follow-up phone calls about your group’s observations and concerns: health, safety, illegality, threats to children. Forcefully state a solution. Always copy town officials and the state’s attorney’s office.

15.  Public strategies — educate the public about the problem:  

a.  Attend Selectboard meetings. 

b.  Write letters to the editor.

c.  Promote news articles (Reformer – Bob Audette, and The Commons – Jeff Potter) 

d.  Contact commercial and community radio/television. 

e.  Use local social media. 

f.  Use your own group’s social media network.  

16. Overcoming Obstacles:

a.  Be patient, this process takes time.

b.   Remember that town officials are true allies, they have the same goals.

c.   Be persistent!  Don’t give up!

d.   “Democratize” the problem and the responsibility–involve as many people as possible in the process.

Making our neighborhoods and towns safe is everyone’s mission, a worthy goal to safeguard our children. Teamwork is empowering; talk about the frustrations and the gains.