Bonnie Moreno decided that enough was enough the day she woke up to find that the fence around her yard had been spray painted with gang graffiti. As a long time homeowner in the Shaw Heights area, she saw negative changes developing in her neighborhood with the passing of time.

Bonnie called the Westminster Police Department and asked to start a Neighborhood Watch Program. She currently oversees one of the most successful Neighborhood Watch groups in the City.

"It is heart-warming to see neighbors coming together to make our neighborhood a better place to live. We are gifting each other, as we share our talents and energy, to do good works that give birth to kindness and understanding among all of our neighbors", Bonnie enthusiastically expressed.

On Saturday, September 29, Shaw Heights area residents joined forces to make a difference at Oakwood Park, located at 8295 Oakwood Drive. This group included Bonnie Moreno, Pat and Ed Miller, Dottie O'Connor, Linda Lymber, Terra Shea, Ruth Ayala, Jim Calhoun, Janet Jones, and Stella Mascarenes. They spent and afternoon at the park cleaning, painting, and removing graffiti. They also made new friends along the way.

Neighborhood Watch is a national crime prevention program that works, encouraging neighborhoods to work cooperatively with the Police Department to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Neighbors that actively organize and work together can significantly reduce crime in their neighborhoods. If you are interested in organizing a Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood and would like more information, please call Investigator Heather Wood with the Westminster Police Department at 303-430-2400 extension 4422.