PANTHER —
The steep, forest-covered mountains of western McDowell County are remote and off the beaten path, but law-abiding people from the area hope to establish better connections with law enforcement agencies in the county in an effort to help stem the tide of illegal activity in the region.
Sgt. W.C. Tupper, commander of the Welch Detachment of the West Virginia State Police said he has been in contact with community leaders in Panther who have expressed interest in establishing a Neighborhood Watch program in the area.
“We can’t be everywhere all the time, and having extra sets of eyes from the community watching activity in the area can help,” Tupper said. “Trooper First Class B.J. Garretson was recently able to make three arrests in the Panther area on his investigation into the theft of copper communications wire. The help he received from people living in the community who were able to identify a vehicle used in the crime was valuable to his investigation.”
Billy Conyers, chief of the Panther Volunteer Fire Department, said that the fire department will be hosting an organizational Neighborhood Watch meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the fire hall.
“We really want to see what kind of interest there is in starting a Neighborhood Watch,” Conyers said. “If the people don’t want to do it, I’ll turn all the paperwork back in without filling it out. But I think that people do want to make a difference.”
Conyers said that in his capacity as fire chief, he sometimes drives through Panther and Bull Creek to check out potential fire trouble spots. He believes that the community will support a structured Neighborhood Watch program.
“I know there have been Neighborhood Watch programs in Gary and Northfork, but I don’t know how active they are now,” Tupper said. “It could be a big help to law enforcement.”
Conyers said he hopes that at least 15-20 people will show up to demonstrate that there is interest in the program. “I think it’s worth a try,” he said.
— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
Local News
July 30, 2012
Residents of Panther area hope to establish Neighborhood Watch
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