Au Sable Forks community starts neighborhood watch

BLACK BROOK | Residents who live in and around Au Sable Forks are creating a Neighborhood Watch project to help keep their community safe. Town of Black Brook Supervisor Jon Douglass held a start-up meeting on Aug. 22 to gather information about alleged criminal activity and hear concerns from residents. Seats in the town hall meeting room filled to capacity with standing room only. "Whenever there is a disaster we always come together," Douglass said of his community's resilience. "And I classify this as a disaster right now." Douglass had invited representatives from both Clinton and Essex County sheriff's departments and from New York State Police. But no law enforcement personnel had staff available to attend, he told the crowd of about 60. Another 40 or so people attended the public safety discussion online. Primary concerns centered on apparent drug-related activity, visible drug use, needles dropped on the ground, and people coming and going in brief intervals during all hours of the day and night. Other concerns related to theft from garages and porches, which many attributed to drug-related crime. Douglass said residents can help by keeping close watch. "If you see something that's not right, make a phone call. Call 9-1-1. Troopers, the sheriffs' deputies can only do what they can do. But if we keep getting them (drug users and thieves) arrested, something will happen. It's our responsibility to keep Au Sable Forks what it was," the supervisor said. "If you see something, you have to say something. You need to call state police and the sheriff. We need to get them involved." Au Sable Forks is a community split between two towns, Jay and Black Brook, and two counties, Essex and Clinton. They are half an hour or more from sheriff headquarters. Douglass offered some advice to homeowners to help prevent theft and identify people using drugs. "It is cost effective to buy a security camera," he said, suggesting some that are not expensive. "The way we caught the people stealing bottles from the town was with security cameras." Make sure your house is well lit at night, he said. And trim underbrush around the house and walkways. "Make sure the undergrowth is cut so people have nowhere to hide," Douglass said. He said the town planned to trim undergrowth around the fishing pavilion with a picnic gazebo in their park next to the Au Sable River. It had apparently become a known and popular place to gather for drug use. A group of residents helped clear overgrowth the day after the meeting, leaving the space open to plain sight. He also encouraged group walks at various times of day, to put people on the street with roving eyes. "We're going to have our own little security force," he said. Law enforcement response has proved frustrating to many, according to comments made at the meeting. Residents expressed disappointment with drug arrests that end with immediate release, a situation related to New York State Bail Reform Law that limits how magistrates remand alleged criminals to jail. The community referred to this policy as "catch and release." But the community does rely on law enforcement response. One resident described calling to report "people wandering around (who) don't know where they are. They get arrested and are released in a few hours." A recent series of incidents brought law enforcement and EMTs to the Tops Friendly Market in Au Sable Forks two nights in a row. Alleged illicit activity at the nearby picnic pavilion has people concerned about going in to buy groceries. One store employee told the community that she can see what goes on in the gazebo and asked the Town of Jay to have security cameras placed around it. "I know a lot of thefts have been going on with break-ins and stealing bottles. It's happening right in the center of everything. Monday, we had two fire trucks, ambulances and cop cars," the woman said. Another female described fear she felt when out for a walk one evening and a car turned around and slowly began to follow her. "I don't dare to go out for a walk any more, it's terrifying," another woman said. Another resident told how disappointing it is that she can't leave eggs and money boxes out for neighbors anymore. But she has been able to identify thieves using security cameras. "Put a camera out, it does help," she said. Other community members spoke about seeing adults who appeared to be using drugs with children in a house or playing nearby, a situation that is ultimately reported to child services agencies. Douglass said the town was going to send code enforcement personnel to check on houses that are unkempt to see if they are in line with town code for occupancy. "We need to focus on the (drug) dealers," he said. "We are sending code enforcement to check houses, to see if the power is on or not. "We have to know where its coming from and make them uncomfortable," Douglass said. Eventually the town hopes to get professional resources via the Neighborhood Watch program to speak at meetings. "We can't be vigilantes. What we can do is gather information," he said. Residents expressed hope that keeping close watch and working together on community projects will improve public safety. The town supervisor and staff started a Facebook group for residents to use when they see something or want to go out for a walk and check safety in their streets. It is called the Au Sable Forks Neighborhood Watch group. By the day after the meeting, there were over 430 members. ....................... NEXT MEETING Douglass set another Au Sable Forks safety meeting for Sept. 16. It will start at 6 p.m. and may be held in a larger venue. If held in the town hall, meetings are shared live online. Town of Black Brook Clerk to the Supervisor Jessie Douglass provided an update on the Sept. 16 meeting in the Au Sable Neighborhood Watch Facebook page: "We want the same turnout and more for our next meeting and we are planning to utilize a bigger venue so please plan to attend. We will post a meeting flyer with the updated venue in the upcoming days," she wrote. "Supervisor Douglass and Supervisor (Matt) Stanley have confirmed that law enforcement will be in attendance at the September 16th meeting. "Remember, if you see something, say something. Please do not approach any suspicious activity and please only take pictures and videos if it's safe to do so. "If you see a crime being committed, call 911. The safety of our community members is our top priority, the reason why we are actively seeking a change in our community, in a proactive and safe manner."

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Au Sable Forks community starts neighborhood watch

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