Police Enlist Young Eyes in Crime Watch

Los Angeles police have found some small but energetic new allies in the fight against crime in the San Fernando Valley:

Kids.

In an experiment in community-based policing, Northridge parents and police have formed a neighborhood watch group made up of children from elementary and junior high schools--both to keep an eye on the streets and to steer the children away from gangs.

“The kids know what’s going on around here better than anybody,” said Officer Sally Barnes, who in July established the “Malden Street Junior Watch” program, which now has about 50 recruits. “They’re out on the street all the time. They’re my eyes and ears here.”

The flow of information goes both ways. On Wednesday night, Barnes spoke to about 40 children who sat in a semicircle around her on the sidewalk at Malden Street and Canby Avenue. She gave them tips for safe methods of trick or treating and handed out Halloween candy and illustrated safety booklets.

The watch program began after Barnes was approached by several parents who were part of a neighborhood watch group and wanted to steer local kids away from gangs.

Barnes and the parents decided to target kids ages 13 and younger in order to “get to them before the gangs do,” she said. “The only way we can reach them is get to them while they’re young.”

While people at the meeting said gangs were not a major problem in the neighborhood to date, several parent organizers said they fear gangs may begin recruiting locally. “These are barrio kids. They’ll go straight into gangs if we don’t do something,” said Teresa Reed, who attended the meeting with two of her children.

Reed has gone door-to-door in her neighborhood telling parents, many of whom speak only Spanish, about the watch program.

Children described the program as educational and fun.

“Sally is real nice. She’s our friend,” said Jasmina Bonilla, 9. “She teaches us a lot of good things.”

Ramon Vasquez, who at 13 is old enough to have some exposure to gangs, said Barnes taught him to see through gang members’ tough veneer.

“I don’t want to get killed. I want to live. Those guys will get you killed--so I don’t even want to talk to guys in gangs,” Vasquez said.

Barnes, whose beat includes the area near the intersection of Roscoe and Reseda boulevards, said the watch program has revolutionized her relationship with residents.

“Before, nobody would ever talk to me, but now all the kids wave and I pull over and talk when I have time,” she said. “We’re friends and I feel like I’m making a difference.”