Community Watch deserves a fair shake

[carolynpage]

I know some people feel they are nuisance, but I feel you need to walk in their shoes for $7.97 an hour. These guys and gals do quit a service for that money. They do home checks, direct traffic at accidents for the local police. Direct traffic at Colony , where I might tell you they have had profanity screamed at them, spit on, even pushed around and almost hit by traffic vehicles. They remove dead animals and snakes. They do pool checks and senior house checks.

Then there is also the "job description" on the VCDD website too.

The Fire and Police Departments have all commended them for their quality of work which helps free up their departments to carry on with their work.

To bad they are not paid a decent wage to go along with there duties.

[njbchbum]

I've never heard a member of CW complain about the wage. Why do you feel responsible to advocate for them?

[Matt and Gail]

I've never heard a member of CW complain about the wage. Why do you feel responsible to advocate for them?

Advocate, you bet I am! Been there, done that. If you haven't heard it your not talking to anyone who does the job or did the job. Why would you not be an advocate for the njbchbum? Sorry enough said!

[BarryRX]

Let me add my thanks to them for a good job also!

[Bucco]

If the OP is posting simply to complain about the wages, then I agree totally with njbchbum "Why do you feel responsible to advocate for them?"

If you are simply giving them a pat on the back and you just happened to mention their wages, then I will join you in complimenting them, but the wages have nothing to do with it.

They are well aware of where they will work and the pay for that job from the get go.

BUT I applaud the job they do at every turn !

[Warren Kiefer]

I know some people feel they are nuisance, but I feel you need to walk in their shoes for $7.97 an hour. These guys and gals do quit a service for that money. They do home checks, direct traffic at accidents for the local police. Direct traffic at Colony , where I might tell you they have had profanity screamed at them, spit on, even pushed around and almost hit by traffic vehicles. They remove dead animals and snakes. They do pool checks and senior house checks.

Then there is also the "job description" on the VCDD website too.

The Fire and Police Departments have all commended them for their quality of work which helps free up their departments to carry on with their work.

To bad they are not paid a decent wage to go along with there duties.

I HAVE A QUESTION WHY WE RESIDENTS ARE PAYING A ORGANIZATION TO PERFORM DUTIES ON PUBLIC STREETS AND STATE HIGHWAYS ?? SHOULDN'T THESE PARTICULAR DUTIES FALL TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHERIFF'S OFFICES AND STATE POLICE ?? I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DIRECTED TO DO >>>>:BigApplause:

[Indydealmaker]

I HAVE A QUESTION WHY WE RESIDENTS ARE PAYING A ORGANIZATION TO PERFORM DUTIES ON PUBLIC STREETS AND STATE HIGHWAYS ?? SHOULDN'T THESE PARTICULAR DUTIES FALL TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHERIFF'S OFFICES AND STATE POLICE ?? I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DIRECTED TO DO >>>>:BigApplause:

If you removed the CW, the net effect would be that every service they provide would go lacking. The Sheriff's department and the various fire departments cannot provide those kinds of services at the current low cost.

[Barefoot]

Hats off to CW. :ho:
I like to see their trucks patrolling our neighborhood!

[Happinow]

I agree with the OP.....hats off to Community Watch!

[handyman]

Hats off to CW. :ho:
I like to see their trucks patrolling our neighborhood!

We really need a like button.

[Neal2tire]

Having run security in another POA in another state let me share with you. Most of the community patrol cannot afford to MAKE MORE MONEY. 80% are supplementing their income or plainly just making extra money. We were offered a wage hike where I worked in South Carolina and we all turned it down. It was beer and fun money.
Now if there are folks working with community patrol who have moved here and took a hit in a market etc and NEED the money badly..... They can go get a job outside of the villages. Or better yet pull up and hand the guard a 100.00 bill once a month. Have at it...... Oh yes. I have done just that for one worker who had a death in the family. Cash

[rubicon]

I did not take the OP's comments to be advocating one way or another concerning Community Watch's wages. Instead he was pointing out a comparison in that for the amount they are being paid a lot is asked of them.

Community Watch's role has been a source of discussion since I moved here.
In my view they add value to The Villages and as Indy pointed out supplement work that law enforcement officers could never get to

Guys cut them some slack

I am going to go out and pull weeds now before it gets too hot.

[DougB]

I did not take the OP's comments to be advocating one way or another concerning Community Watch's wages. Instead he was pointing out a comparison in that for the amount they are being paid a lot is asked of them.

Community Watch's role has been a source of discussion since I moved here.
In my view they add value to The Villages and as Indy pointed out supplement work that law enforcement officers could never get to

Guys cut them some slack

I am going to go out and pull weeds now before it gets too hot.

Medical weed?

[123Cookie]

I totally agree with the OP - and would like to add - would love to see either a Wildwood police officer or Co. Deputy on foot nightly at squares as a back up for these gentlemen - what they have to deal with at our "young" age and for minimal wage goes way beyond the realm of reality! - kudos to the Community Watch people but when dealing with a general (non-resident) public, police backup should be there. a cruise through with car is nice but not enough...

[Bogie Shooter]

I totally agree with the OP - and would like to add - would love to see either a Wildwood police officer or Co. Deputy on foot nightly at squares as a back up for these gentlemen - what they have to deal with at our "young" age and for minimal wage goes way beyond the realm of reality! - kudos to the Community Watch people but when dealing with a general (non-resident) public, police backup should be there. a cruise through with car is nice but not enough...

Today's Daily Sun.
Lady Lake police to use Segway in Town Square - The Villages Daily Sun: In Todays Daily Sun (http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/in_todays_daily_sun/article_244d92cc-d8c1-11e3-89c4-001a4bcf887a.html)
There is a Wildwood police sub-station at Brownwood.

[123Cookie]

Today's Daily Sun.
Lady Lake police to use Segway in Town Square - The Villages Daily Sun: In Todays Daily Sun (http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/in_todays_daily_sun/article_244d92cc-d8c1-11e3-89c4-001a4bcf887a.html)
There is a Wildwood police sub-station at Brownwood.

the substation at Brownwood is rarely manned in the evenings -- I feel a visible preference (on foot) at night is needed to help out the CW. -- usually is it one guy on - with a crowd of 200 or more - several of which have made one too many trips to the drinking hole -

[Bogie Shooter]

the substation at Brownwood is rarely manned in the evenings -- I feel a visible preference (on foot) at night is needed to help out the CW. -- usually is it one guy on - with a crowd of 200 or more - several of which have made one too many trips to the drinking hole -

What has the past response time been, when needed?

[Buffalo Jim]

If you removed the CW, the net effect would be that every service they provide would go lacking. The Sheriff's department and the various fire departments cannot provide those kinds of services at the current low cost.

Well said Steve . As usual a voice of intelligent well thought out and expressed reason .
For too many who complain such rational thoughts take all the " air " out of their emotion based arguments . Hence they rarely acknowledge or respond to your Posts .
I for one am a fan and encourage you to continue your efforts . :BigApplause:

[123Cookie]

What has the past response time been, when needed?

5 to 10 minutes - and in that amount of time -things can get quite "Hairy" - voice of experience.

[JohnN]

for the most part, Community Watch is a joke.
My opinion based on experiences.

[blue72]

DougB

Once again,
You're my Hero!!!!!!!!

And Kudos to Community Watch

[cquick]

I really appreciate the Community Watch! Last week we had left our garage door open and the light on. We got a phone call at 1:45am. It was the CW. Just checking on us. We didn't get to the phone in time, but they left a message to call back at 8am in the morning so they would know we were ok. I didn't get a chance to call back! They called us at 8am on the dot.

We feel very appreciative to the Community Watch.