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To register a neighborhood watch group or to get more information on how to start one, contact the Fort Dodge Police Department at 573-1426 or fdpd@dodgenet.com

It's all about neighbors watching out for neighbors. That's what Julie Davis and Laura Kersten say.

They wanted to be there for each other and their cul-de-sac community and couldn't think of a better way to get to know their neighbors than to start a neighborhood watch.

''We had several new neighbors move to our block that we haven't gotten to know yet,'' said Davis. ''We just wanted to get to know each other and to form that family atmosphere.''

But it takes a neighborhood of individuals to become a family, said Davis. Approximately 17 families met for their first neighborhood watch meeting on Sunday, and Davis said they're already feeling like a family.

There are plans for a block party and a bowling league in the near future, in addition to the once-a-month neighborhood watch meetings, she said.

''We're forming relationships that will last a lifetime,'' she said. ''It's nice to walk down the street and be able to have conversations.''

But it's not just about making friends, said Davis. It's about being safe.

''During the day, some of us are home and some of aren't,'' she said. ''We just want to make sure someone is keeping an eye on things. We want a safe family environment where kids and parents can know with confidence that they're safe to play in the neighborhood.''

Fort Dodge Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty said a safe neighborhood is all about getting to know each other.

''We probably don't talk to our neighbors as much as we should,'' he said. ''When you take the time to get to know your neighbor on a personal level, you can feel comfortable going to them to ask them to keep an eye on things when you're out of town.''

But a neighborhood watch program could be something as simple as exchanging numbers and agreeing to keep an eye out for strange activity, he said.

''It can be anything the neighborhood needs it to be,'' Doty said. ''It can be a loose-knit group of people who meet once a year or a group who get together to walk the blocks at night.''

Either way, they are the extended eyes and ears of the police department, he said.

''We can't be everywhere in the city all the time,'' Doty said. ''And if criminals know that there is a neighborhood watch in the area, maybe they will be less inclined to commit a crime. They might have a better chance to get caught.''

And that was enough of a reason to start her neighborhood watch, said Davis.

''We live here - we know what's not normal,'' she said ''We're the best asset for the police department.''

According to the National Sheriffs' Association Neighborhood Watch Program's Web site, neighborhood watch is one of the best-known and oldest crime prevention programs.

But it doesn't work without the residents. Someone has to take the lead, Doty said.

''It takes a core group of people to keep it going,'' he said. ''There has to be a few people who want to take the initiative to get it started.''

There seems to be more people willing to step up and get one started, said Doty.

Sgt. Joel Lizer, Fort Dodge Police Department, was given the responsibility of meeting with new neighborhood watch groups in 2000 to help them get organized and said he'd only had two or three groups since that time. More recently, Lizer has met with two groups in Fort Dodge in the past month and has another meeting planned in the near future.

"Neighborhood watch is on the rise," said Doty.

The reason varies.

"Since 9/11 there has been more of a resurgence across the nation," Lizer said.

Doty said the resurgence in Fort Dodge could be caused by officers talking about what citizens could do to stop crime.

"Neighborhood watch was talked about with the 2030 plan and was mentioned in break-out meetings," said Doty. "People are maybe becoming aware that it's still functionable. Hopefully people are interested and want to be safe and see this as a way of doing that."

Lizer said he is working to bring the traditional program into the 21st century.

"We're trying to bring mass e-mail lists so we can inform all the groups at once," said Lizer. "I'd like to get off to a training for the program and I'm looking over the National Sheriffs' Association's Web site to get more information to pump into the program."

He said he's looking for better ways to tailor his approach to each neighborhood because each one has an unique set of problems.

"I'm learning right along with them," said Lizer.

Contact Katie Williams at (515) 753-2141 or katie@messengernews.net