Community Watch Training Planned In Lower Merion March 12

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — In the ongoing effort to keep Lower Merion Township as crime free as possible, the Lower Merion Community Watch is hosting another patrol training course in the near future.

The upcoming course will be held at 7 p.m. March 12 in the Lower Merion Township Building in Ardmore.

"We have made great progress in rebuilding our volunteer patrol program," Matt Peskin, President of Lower Merion Community Watch, said. "It’s wonderful to see LMCW members back out on the street serving as additional eyes and ear for the LMPD."

Lower Merion Township residents can register for the training course online here.

Registrants must be 18 years of age or older and residents of Lower Merion Township.

The training session will last about one hour.

Lower Merion resident Robert Tabas said he's been a member of the program for about a year, and said his experiences have been great.

"It's fun, it's a very good program," he said. "There are a few people who participate regularly, but they could always use more volunteers."

Program members are given the chance to sign up for patrols online, and patrols last at least two hours in the evening. Typically, one person patrols by themselves, but Tabas said buddying up is also an option.

When on patrol, volunteers are given a police radio to have direct communication with the Lower Merion Police Department to report any suspicious or criminal behavior they see.

They are also clued in to incidents that have occurred in their patrol area, such as car break-ins, to keep an eye out for those types of crimes. Patrol areas are divided into sectors across the township, as well.

When in the training class, participants learn the dos and don'ts of patrolling their communities, number one being not to engage with anyone they see acting suspicious.

"We're there to be the eyes and ears of the police department," Tabas said. While he hasn't seen ant suspicious behavior himself while on patrol, he recalled some instances of others reporting suspect activities happening in the township.

And, Tabas said the program is a good way to get to know others in the community.

"More people should get involved," he said.

Learn more about the Lower Merion Community Watch online here.