Worthington Area Crime Watch Seeks Membership
Barry Rosen serves hot dogs on behalf of Market on Reynolds of Kittanning before residents listened to an informational meeting of the Worthington Area Crime Watch Wednesday, August 10.
by Jonathan Weaver
A local crime watch is looking for group members to help reduce crime.
The Worthington Area Crime Watch held a kick-off party Wednesday, August 10, to attract residents to get involved and keep an eye open.
Mayor Kevin Feeney asks for the public’s help.
“We don’t have a lot of problems in town, but with a part time police force, we need the eyes and ears and need some help out there,” Feeney said.
The group seeks group members and officers, such as a secretary or treasurer, to join. Local Resident Cathy Slagle officially announced herself as group captain Wednesday.
“We need leadership to get it started. We’ve been talking about it for a few months, but we’re moving forward,” Slagle said.
Mark Clepper has lived in Worthington for 10 years and is one that volunteered his time as an officer. He explained why.
“We have a nice, safe community here and it’s nice to come home to a nice, quiet town and I want to keep it that way,” Clepper said.
Overall, 10 residents signed an application to be involved with the program.
Slagle created two model T-shirts to sell to interested members – one orange, one yellow – and hopes people start ordering to wear them around town.
“Everybody wants to get a buzz from drugs – well, we wanna get the new buzz,” Slagle said.
Local residents should contact Tammy Crissman at TLC Creations to order.
Worthington Borough Police Chief William DeForte pointed out the biggest drug problem in Armstrong County to more than a dozen attendees.
Worthington Police Chief William DeForte spoke to interested crime watchers August 10 about drug activity in Armstrong County.
“90 percent of the crime that we have is directly connected to drug use,” DeForte said. “Thefts, robberies, murders…its all related to one thing. The biggest problem in our community is heroin.
“We can’t pinpoint these problems in the early stages without your help. If you someones child acting differently, and you find these bags in the house, we need a phone call,” DeForte said. “If we act early, we can prevent a much larger problem.”
State Constable Barry Rosen is also committed to stopping drug activity.
“We are here to make a difference –we’re going to make a difference. My kids are here, I’m here, your kids are here. I’m not gonna stop,” Rosen said. “We’re in here day-in and day-out doing the same thing.”
Following the meeting, Feeney said the turn-out wasn’t very big, but the message was spread.
“It’s a start – we have the right people here and within the next month, we’ll have a lot of things established to go,” Feeney said. “Everything’s good.”
The group will meet next month, September 14 at 7PM.
The crime watch also created a tip-line so that community residents can alert the police about possible crime. That phone number is 545-4166.