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Massena's Neighborhood Watch Program

The purpose of the Neighborhood Watch program is to create an alert neighborhood by using simple crime prevention methods. The program works through the mutual aid of neighbors watching the property of other neighbors and reporting suspicious activity to police.

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972 to assist citizens and law enforcement.

Massena's Neighborhood Watch was launched in the summer of 2009 when more than 50 community residents came together to develop a program that would make our community an even safer place to live. Even though our village has an exceptionally low crime rate compared to national statistics, the founding members of Massena's Neighborhood Watch believe that even one crime is too many. We believe that, by just watching out for our neighbors, we can create even safer neighborhoods and a better community.

You can make a difference by becoming a part of the Neighborhood Watch Program. Use the information on this webpage to learn more about:

Neighborhood Watch Sectors, Contacts & Meeting Dates

What To Report & Who To Report It To

Tips & Tools To Create A Safer Community

Sex Offenders Living In Our Community

 

Neighborhood Watch Sectors, Contacts & Meeting Dates

In order to best serve the community, the Massena Neighborhood Watch program is comprised of "sectors" that each has its own representatives. Those representatives help connect their neighbors to the program -- bringing information to them and gathering their concerns about activities occuring in their neighborhoods. Sector members also meet monthly to share issues they are having in their neighborhoods and identify possible solutions. Immediately following the Sector meetings, the entire Neighborhood Watch group meets to review common concerns and suggestions on how to address them.

The sectors include:

1 - North: all streets north of the Grasse River

2 - Central: all streets located between the Grasse River and Route 37, from the village limits on the west to Railroad Street / Curtis Avenue on the east

3 - South: all streets south of Route 37 and those located north of 37 between Railroad Street and the Village limits to the east

Click here for a map to see which sector your neighborhood is a part of.

To email your concerns to the Neighborhood Watch Representatives in your sector, click here for the current contact list.

Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Massena Community Center -- any village resident is encouraged to attend whenever you can.
Click here for the meeting agenda.

The schedule of meetings is:

To be effective, Neighborhood Watch needs help from residents in all areas to report problems and suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. Refer to the "What To Report" section below, contact the right authorities, bring it to the attention of your Neighborhood Watch Representative or come to one of the Neighborhood Watch meetings.

If you would like more information or want to join this important "neighbor helping neighbor" community program, please contact Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Joe Gray at 764-5456 or click here to send him an email.

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What To Report & Who To Report It To

Like any community, the Village of Massena has enacted local laws to help guide appropriate conduct of our citizens. By understanding those laws, the residents of Massena are better able to both adhere to them and properly deal with neighbors who might be knowingly or unknowingly violating them. The complete Village Code can be found here; but, some of the key ordinances the Neighborhood Watch would like to highlight include:

Juvenile Curfew

Like many communities across the United States, the Village of Massena has a Juvenile Curfew ordinance that was enacted in September of 1969. The purpose of the law is to encourage parents / guardians make sure their children are safely inside at night by requiring that anyone 16 or younger not be unnecessarily loitering on Village streets, alleys or public places -- like parks and playgrounds.

Though there are exceptions based on constitutional rights, the essence of the law is that any child under 16 years of age can not loiter or remain in or upon any of the streets, alleys or public places in the Village of Massena between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. For details on the curfew law and its penalties, see Chapter 130 in the Village Code.

Animals

Chapter 92 of the Village Code was initially enacted in 1969 and updated in 2001 to define the regulations and restrictions in regard to the activities of animals and their owners within the Village. The code covers the Animal Control Officer's duties, restrictions on animals that are permitted within the village, proper care / treatment of pets and nuisance issues -- like, cats and dogs going onto the property of people other than the owners. To learn more about what is expected of Village pet owners and how to file a complaint, please see Chapter 92 of the Village Code.

Noise

As detailed in the code, Massena's Noise ordinance was enacted to make neighborhood living more enjoyable for all by restricting what would be considered annoying noise. You should review Chapter 200 for complete information; but, for your convenience, the following are classified as Prohibited Acts:

1. Any unnecessary noise from any source between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
2. Noise from a dog or other pet animal that is continuous and exceeds 15 minutes.
3. Noise from a burglar alarm or other alarm system of any building, motor vehicle, or boat that is continuous and exceeds 15 minutes.
4. Noise from any sound reproduction system, operating or playing any radio, portable radio or tape player, television, tape deck or similar device that reproduces or amplifies sound in such a manner as to be heard 60 feet from its source or over any property line.
5. The erection, including excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., except in case of a public safety and emergency.
6. The operation of power equipment in residential zones outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day, and on weekends between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
7. The sounding of any horn or signaling device of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle for any unnecessary or unreasonable period of time.
8. The making of improper noise or disturbance or operating an automobile or motorcycle in such a manner as to cause excessive squealing or other excessive noise of the tires.
9. Offering for sale anything by shouting or outcrying upon the public streets and sidewalks.

Property Care

The Village Code also provides for the manner in which properties should be maintained. Chapter 186 Section 43 deals specifically with those situations that would be deemed "Nuisances" and prohibited within the Incorporated Village of Massena, some of which are:

• Uncut grass, weeds, brush or any portion of said growth to obtain a height in excess of 12 inches.
• Boats or motor vehicles or portions thereof to be parked or stored for unreasonable periods of time or to be parked or stored if it is abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, junked or substantially damaged and is not intended to be used or in no condition for legal use upon the public highway.
• Accumulations of brush, tree stumps, or other vegetative waste or rubble or construction waste that is maintained beyond normally scheduled garbage removal.
• Accumulations of junk, old metals or machinery, rags or newspapers.

Chapter 186-19 also deals with the required Exterior Protection residents must provide for housing units in the Village. Among the requirements are maintaining the exterior walls to prevent deterioration due to the elements and destructive insects by keeping it painted; keeping foundation walls structurally sound to prevent entrance of moisture, termites and vermin; and, making sure roofs are maintained in watertight condition.

In addition, the Village has an Unsafe Building Law that appears in Chapter 120 and defines the defects in Section 4 that would be considered unsafe. Some of the defects outlined are:

• open at the doorways making it accessible or an object of attraction to minors, vagrants and/or other trespassers.
• damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of this Village.
• has become or is so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe or unsanitary, or utterly fails to provide the amenities essential to decent living that it is unfit for human habitation or is likely to cause sickness or disease so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein or adjacent thereto.
• has parts which have become so detached they may fail and injure members of the public or others' property.
• is or may become a place of rodent infestation.

These are just brief overviews of Village codes that apply to issues frequently raised in regard to opportunities in neighborhoods for areas of improvement. Please view the complete Code for more information. If you have a complaint relating to the above issues or one not listed here, please bring it to the attention of the Neighborhood Watch group. Or, use the following reference guide to report a complaint:

* Please click here to review the current codes for the Village of Massena to learn more about ordinances such as noise, curfew, animals, etc.

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Tips & Tools To Create A Safer Community

VACANT HOUSE CHECK
The Massena Police Department offers a program known as “Vacant House Check.” If you are planning to be away from your home for vacation or an extended period of time, you can register with the department to have officers keep a watchful eye on your property. Visit the Police Department (located in the back of the Town Hall) to register at least one week before you expect to leave. But, since we all realize the police can't be every where, all the time, there are other ways to help protect your property when you are away: use timers to set inside and outside lights to come on at dusk; ask someone you trust to bring your mail / newspapers in every day; and let neighbors close to you know that they should report any activity to the police while you are away.

For more information about the Vacant House Check program, call the non-emergency Police number: 769-3577

ARE YOU OKAY?
"Are You Okay" is a free daily phone call service provided by the Office of the Aging to seniors, disabled persons, and people that are shut in. The “Are You OK? call is made at a pre-selected time which provides a daily check on a person. And, caring community members can always lend a hand by getting to know the shut ins that live in your neighborhood and checking in with them periodically to make sure everything is alright.

To apply for the daily "Are You Okay" phone call service, call the Office for the Aging: 386-4730

CELL PHONES FOR SAFETY
The Massena Police Department in cooperation with the Massena Senior Citizens Center and the Massena Independent Living Center sponsors the “Cell Phones for Safety” program to provide a cellular telephone to people for emergency 911 calls.

A disconnected cell phone can still be used to call Emergency 911, provided that it is charged.This service is valuable to people that are traveling in vehicles, or those who spend time away from a phone. If you have a cell phone and charger in working condition, please donate it to the Massena Police Department. The Massena Senior Citizens and Massena Independent Living Center distribute them to those in need -- in particular, for our elderly or disabled residents.

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TEEN SAFETY HOME CHECK
As part of our commitment to keep your teenagers safe, the Massena Police Department will conduct drive-by home checks while parents are out of town. All you need to do is complete a “Teen Safety Home Check” form and turn it in to Village Police at least a week before you'll be out of town.  You can get the form at the Police Department located at the back of the Town Hall, or download one HERE.Then, while you are away, the police will contact you if they drive by and notice suspicious activity. The parents decide whether to have the officer intervene or deal directly with their teenager.

This valuable service is more than a deterrent to keeping your teens from hosting a party -- it lessens the peer pressure they might get from friends to use your house for something your teen would rather not allow. And, even older teens appreciate knowing someone is watching out for them when their parents are away.

Please keep in mind that this service is designed to keep your teens safe -- even though New York State law does not have a minimum age that kids can be left alone, the generally accepted guideline is that parents can leave their children for short periods of time when they reach age 12, so long as they are not required to care for others. Teens that are not comfortable being home alone and children should always be left in the care of a trusted guardian or relative when you plan on being out of town..

And, because it is always difficult to predict the amount of work the police might experience at any given time, they can not guarantee this service.  They will do their very best to provide it based upon available manpower.

For more information about Teen Safety Home Check, call the non-emergency Police number: 769-3577

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DRUG TIP LINE
For those who would like to remain anonymous about reporting illegal drug activity in your neighborhood, the Massena Police Department's Investigative Unit maintains a “Drug Tip Line" -- just call 764-5508 and leave a message with the information you have. And, even if you have left a tip or alerted the police to such activity already, you should leave follow up messages if you see any changes or can provide aditional details about the illegal activity (cars, people, schedule, etc.).

Unfortunately for those of us who have drug activity in our neighborhood, we have to keep in mind that it can take some time for the police to build a solid case against those dealing / using illegal drugs; so, results may not be as immediate as we'd like. However, you should never hesitate to contact police again to report new activity that you feel puts your family in danger by immediately calling 911.

Drug Tip Line: 764-5508

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FILING A COMPLAINT
Complaints can be filed in person at the Police Station located at the back of the Town Hall, called in by phone at 769-3577 or -- in an emergency -- dial 911.

SEAWAY VALLEY CRIME STOPPERS
If you know someone involved in a crime, or can provide police with information about a crime, call the Seaway Valley Crime Stoppers 1-800-265-TIPS (1-800-265-8477). You will not have to reveal your identity and you could earn a cash reward.

Seaway Valley Crime Stoppers: 1-800-265-TIPS (1-800-265-8477)

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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

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CRIME PREVENTION
At the National Crime Prevention Council website -- McGruff's home -- you'll find outstanding resources to fight crime, protect your family and improve your community! Topics include:

• Bullying - What Parents Can Do, Teaching Kids About Bullying, Girls and Bullying, Strategies
• Cyberbullying - What is Cyberbullying?, What Parents Can Do About Cyberbullying, Cyberbullying FAQ For Teen
• Planning for Emergencies - a Family Guide
• Drug Abuse - How Parents Can Prevent Drug Abuse, Girls and Drug Abuse, Inhalant Abuse, Strategies
• Fraud and Identity Theft - Evolving With Technology, Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
• Halloween Safety
• Hate Crime - Strategies, How Parents Can Teach Kids About Diversity, Tolerance for Teens
• Home and Neighborhood Safety - Neighborhood Safety Tips For Parents, Strategies
• Internet Safety - Tips for Parents, Parents' Guide to Social Networking Websites, Cybersafe Girls
• School Safety - What Parents Can Do to Keep Kids Safe at School, Strategies
• Violent Crime and Personal Safety - Protect Yourself From Violent Crime, What to Teach Kids About Strangers, Leaving Kids Home Alone
• Volunteering - Ideas for Volunteers, How Parents Can Encourage Volunteering, Teen Volunteers Campaign

For more information on these and other crime prevention tips, please visit the National Crime Prevention Council website (new window will open).

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ONLINE SAFETY TIPS
Learn how to keep yourself and your children safer on MySpace by clicking here for the MySpace Safety Tips (opens new window).

The Internet is full of wonderful things but it also has inappropriate content and kids are bound to see it at some point. According to NetSmartz, the best approach is to establish a solid set of rules with your children so they know what to do when they encounter something you consider objectionable. For more cyber tips, visit the NetSmartz website sponsored by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

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TRIAD
TRIAD is a partner project between the Massena Senior Citizens, Massena Independent Living Center and the Police to identify and develop more effective approaches to crime issues that affect our community's older citizens.

To learn more, click here for a PDF with contact information.

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Sex Offenders Living In Our Community:
Sex offenders are classified by their risk level to repeat offend:

• Level one (low risk);
• Level two (medium risk); and
• Level three (high risk). 

Level 1 offenders are required to register for a minimum of twenty years, and level 2 and 3 offenders for life. Police and law enforcement have access to information on all sex offenders (levels 1, 2 and 3).  However, under the law, information on level 1 (low-risk) offenders is not available on the public website.  Only level 2 and 3 offenders are listed on the public website.

Please be advised that the following Registered Level 3 Sex Offenders are currently living in our community. Click on their names to open a new page with detailed information and current address.:

Frego, Paul A
Herne, Marlene M
Jacobs, Scott M
Monroe, Carl E
Remington, Edward S

Click here to view the list of Registered Sex Offenders living in St. Lawrence County. This list includes multiple listings to include aliases and registered sex offenders currently incarcerated in one of the county's jails.

To search for Registered Sex Offenders living in New York State or other counties as well as other resources, click here to visit the main website page of the Sex Offender Registry of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

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Massena Police Department - Town Hall, 60 Main Street - Massena, NY 13662 - 315.769.3577 - police@massenaworks.com