MACON, Ga. — Judy Gordon coordinates the neighborhood watch groups for the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
“They are the eyes and the ears for the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office because the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office can’t be everywhere," Gordon said.
She believes these groups are an extension of the sheriff’s office.
"You see something, you hear something, you say something. We don't want anyone to go out and be vigilantes. We want you to just report suspicious activity to the sheriff's office," Gordon said.
These neighborhood watch groups help reduce crime and increase connectivity according to Stanley B. Stewart.
"In my neighborhood, we have a lot of older citizens who can’t really get out and about so much, so those of us who are younger we try to make sure we’re their eyes and ears and do everything we possibly can to make a safe and secure neighborhood for our neighbors," Stewart said.
When asked if crime would go away, Gordon gave a straight answer.
"Never because you still have people," Gordon said. "But can we do things that we can decrease you becoming a victim? Yes."
The Rosa Jackson Rec Center event had a theme of the sheriff celebrating the unsung heroes.
"The unsung heroes are the people who every day make our community better. Paraprofessionals, school teachers, bus drivers, truck drivers, students, all those folks in our community," Davis said.
Sheriff David Davis believes neighborhood watch groups are essential to crime prevention.
"Without neighborhood watch and the people in their communities watching what’s happening, we couldn’t do our job," Davis explained.