Op-Ed: You Don’t Need a Badge to Help Keep Your Neighborhood Safe

Every morning when I head out the door, I still hear my dad’s voice in the back of my mind—“Be alert.” He’s said it my entire life, and he still says it to me today as an adult. Simple words, but they’ve stayed with me. Be aware. Pay attention. Keep your head up—not out of paranoia, but out of care and responsibility. That’s how we look out for each other.

That mindset is exactly why I believe in Dog Walker Watch—a program that empowers everyday people to become active observers in their own communities. It’s practical. It’s local. And it’s exactly the kind of common-sense, citizen-led initiative that helps keep America safer.

Created by the National Association of Town Watch, Dog Walker Watch turns the simple act of walking your dog into an opportunity to help deter crime. There are more than 88 million dogs in the U.S., which means millions of people are out walking—morning, afternoon, and night. And while many are distracted by texts or podcasts, this program encourages folks to stay aware of their surroundings and serve as extra “eyes and ears” for local law enforcement.

Participants go through a brief, one-hour training that teaches how to recognize and report suspicious behavior. As the program emphasizes, people aren’t suspicious—behavior is. The goal isn’t to judge—it’s to stay aware. That might mean noticing someone cruising the block at low speed, watching a stranger peer into windows or mailboxes, or someone walking down the street carrying electronics who clearly doesn’t belong.

It also includes things like porch piracy, a crime that’s become almost commonplace in recent years. Package theft may seem small, but it’s often the first sign of a larger pattern. And if nobody’s watching, those crimes go unchecked. But when someone is paying attention—when someone reports what they saw—it can make all the difference.

Dog Walker Watch is effective because it’s rooted in everyday life. You don’t need a uniform or a badge. You don’t even need a dog. You just need to be willing to show up, look up, and speak up.

I’ve always believed that good citizenship doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about kindness. Connection. Accountability. It’s asking yourself, What can I do with what I have, where I am?

That could be as small as waving to a neighbor or as meaningful as calling in a tip that stops a break-in. It could be offering help to a stranger or reporting something that doesn’t feel right. Community safety starts with people who care enough to pay attention.

Because let’s be honest—crime is all around us. And if good, decent people don’t step up to help, the downward spiral we’re seeing in so many communities will only continue. Porch pirates become burglars. Shoplifters become carjackers. And silence becomes complicity.

Dog Walker Watch is a quiet act of resistance to that decline. It’s a statement that says: We see what’s happening—and we’re not going to look the other way.

It’s also a return to something we used to value more—neighborliness. Knowing the names of the people who live on your street. Checking in. Looking out. We don’t need more fearmongering or finger-pointing. We need more people who walk their blocks with intention and pride. Who believe that their community is worth protecting—not just by law enforcement, but by all of us.

There’s something beautifully American about that idea: that safety and freedom are intertwined, and that both require responsibility.

So the next time you clip on a leash or step out for a stroll, take a moment to really see what’s around you. Say hello to a neighbor. Make note of that unfamiliar car. Be the person who notices—and acts.

Because staying alert isn’t just something my dad says—it’s something our country needs.

To learn more or bring Dog Walker Watch to your neighborhood, visit https://natw.org/dog-walker-watch. The future of our communities depends on active, invested citizens willing to do their part—no matter how small it may seem.

Sometimes, all it takes is a walk.