North City Park Civic Association

Neighborhood Watch Activists Honored for Efforts

Jun 20, 2003

Denver Chief of Police Gerald Whitman recently honored two North City residents, Claudette Jones and Odessa Burch, with a letter of recognition for their efforts with the Neighborhood Watch Program.
Neighborhood Watch is a cooperative effort between the residents of the City and County of Denver and the Denver Police Department to report crime and neighborhood problems and to develop community unity and interaction between the citizens and the Denver Police Department. The program reduces crime in the neighborhoods and promotes a feeling of safety and empowerment for the citizens in their daily lives within the neighborhoods.
Claudette Jones, a pioneer of Neighborhood Watch since 1985, continues to expand the program, helping organize block by block throughout the North City Park Neighborhood. Each year she raises grant funds for individual block parties.
Odessa Burch is a model to be used for other blocks in the city and extends her program beyond the reporting of crimes, to include, the delivery of welcome baskets to new residents, and the bringing of food, to elderly residents and people unable to provide nourishment for themselves due to injury or illness.
The NCPCA joins the City of Denver in thanking Claudette Jones and Odessa Burch for their work in promoting the safety and well being of our local residents, and making North City Park a better neighborhood.