Who can participate?

Anyone who lives in Fremont can participate in NCW. You may live in an apartment or condominium complex, a townhouse or a single family home.

How do I start a NCW group?

Here are the basic steps to starting a NCW group if you've never had one before:

1. Contact your neighbors and agree to start an NCW group
2. Schedule your first meeting
3. Assign Block Captain/Co-Block Captain responsibilities
4. Request NCW signs

To get started, we recommend reading through this website and sharing the information on it with your neighbors (FremontPolice.gov/NCW).

Contact the Public Affairs Unit if you have any questions: 510-790-6740 or fremontpolice@fremont.gov. 

Due to the termination of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, we now invite multi-housing communities in Fremont to join our Neighborhood Crime Watch program. Interested communities are welcome to apply using the Neighborhood Crime Watch application form.

Property managers are welcome to apply as a co-block captains, as long as there is at least one resident who will be the group’s block captain. Contact the specialist for your district to receive recommendations on the number of block captains your community should have.

How to schedule a NCW meeting:

• Contact your neighbors to find out if they are interested. Ask them the best time to attend a meeting (typically a weekday evening between 5 PM to 7:00 PM). Try to find at least a few dates that would work for everyone!
• Select a location for the meeting (a home in the neighborhood is best since it is convenient for everyone). Coordinate with the PAS to arrange a date that is convenient for the neighbors and the Public Affairs Specialist (PAS). The PAS will facilitate the meeting and bring all handouts.
• Distribute NCW meeting invitation flyers to your neighbors.
• On the day of the meeting, give your neighbors a reminder call or flyer to ensure the best attendance.

A typical NCW meeting:

• Attendance: About 10 – 20 neighbors.
• Time: Approximately 1 ½ hours.
• Presenter: Fremont Police Public Affairs Specialist
• Meeting covers:
  • General overview of why crime happens and crime in your area.
  • What is NCW? How does it work? What do we need to do next?
  • Information on general home security/tips to make your home safer.
  • How to recognize and report suspicious or criminal activity and concerns.
  • What to expect from the police department.
  • Getting to know your neighbors and how you can look out for one another.

• The meeting is also a great time to:
  • Complete a roster of members’ names, addresses and telephone numbers.
  • Select a Block Captain and an Alternate (Co-Block Captain) for the group.
  • Decide how many signs you want and where the signs should be installed.

Creating a flyer for your NCW meeting:

• Meeting Date, Location, Host, Phone, and the topic: Neighborhood Crime Watch
• Three Good Reasons to attend the meeting:
  1. A neighborhood Crime Watch Program is one of the best ways to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in your neighborhood.  Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs are most effective when everyone participates.
  2. Find out what's been happening in your neighborhood.  A Fremont Police Department representative will share crime statistics, and discuss crime prevention measures. You can learn about locks, lighting, landscaping, self-defense devices and much more!
  3. Get to know your neighbors and set up a system to communicate with each other.  Learn how to work with the Police Department and other City of Fremont personnel to solve problems. 
• Download a sample Neighborhood Crime Watch Flyer

Does FPD have any crime prevention resources for my meeting?

The police department is a resource that offers brochures and safety presentations on topics such as:

• Personal Safety and Crime Awareness
• Child, Teen or Senior Safety
• Halloween, Summer or Holiday Safety
• Scams or Fraud Schemes
• To obtain brochures, or request a presentation, call the Public Affairs Unit at (510) 790-6740

What is National Night Out?

National Night Out is an annual event for NCW groups. It is held on the first Tuesday in August. Across the nation, NCW groups organize an evening activity (potluck, barbecue, block party) to promote neighborhood unity and crime prevention.

We encourage every NCW group to participate! Information regarding National Night Out is sent to Block Captains of all active NCW groups. On National Night Out in Fremont, Police and City staff participates by visiting dozens of NCW events.

Hosting a National Night Out block party will satisfy the requirement for your annual NCW group meeting.

What is a Block Captain?

The Block Captain and the Alternate/Co-Block Captain are liaisons between the NCW group and the police department. They make sure the map and the roster are complete and the NCW signs are purchased and installed. They also schedule NCW meetings at least once a year, maintain a current membership roster and map, and distribute Crime Alert Bulletins when provided by the police department. Many groups rotate the Block Captain and Alternate responsibilities.

What is a Co-Block Captain?

The Co-Block Captain is an alternate for when the Block Captain is unavailable. The Block Captain(s) and Co-Captain(s) may also choose to divide responsibilities between themselves.

How many Block Captains/Co-Block Captains should I have?

We recommend having at least one Block Captain and one Co-Block Captain. However, you may choose to have multiple Block Captains and/or Co-Block Captains. Contact the specialist for your district to receive recommendations on the number of block captains your community should have.

Use the form on this page to apply to be a Block Captain or Co-Block Captain. Applicants will undergo a brief background check before being confirmed as a Block Captain or Co-Block Captain.

By applying for the Block Captain or the Alternate Block Captain you will be acting as a liaison to the Fremont Police Department. In this capacity a certain level of trust by neighbors is paramount, therefore the police department will conduct Police Records and a Sex Offender File Check prior to recognizing the applicant as Block Captain or Alternate Block Captain.

Every official NCW group must have at least one NCW sign. The NCW sign acts as a crime deterrent by notifying people who enter the area that the neighborhood is watching and knows how to contact the police. The signs are purchased at the Fremont Police Department. Contact the Public Affairs Specialist for your district to purchase signs and identify placement areas.

• There is a fee for each NCW sign.
• If there is a City of Fremont streetlight pole in an appropriate location for the NCW sign, City staff will install the sign at no additional cost.
• If there is not a City of Fremont street light pole available, the group must purchase a sign pole
  and mounting hardware for an additional cost. Before City staff can install a sign and
  pole in front of the home, the group must obtain written approval from that resident.
• If the sign is to be installed on private property, the group can purchase the sign from the Police Department; but they must install it themselves.
• When ready to purchase a NCW sign, bring the roster, map and sign funds to the Police
  Department.

IMPORTANT: Note the following information on the map prior to purchasing the sign(s):

• • pole number (if applicable)
  • pole/sign location (note the address)
  • the direction the sign should face

Neighborhood Map

For neighborhoods in City Council districts 1, 3, and 6, contact Public Affairs Specialist Brittany Alfaro.
Email: BAlfaro@fremont.gov
Phone: 510-790-6696

For neighborhoods in City Council districts 2, 4, and 5, contact Public Affairs Specialist Anthony Silva.
Email: AnSilva@fremont.gov
Phone: 510-790-6979

If you are not sure who to contact, use the Council District Map to locate your address, or contact the Public Affairs Unit
Email: fremontpolice@fremont.gov
Phone: 510-790-6740

How do I make the most of my NCW group?

• Report suspicious activity to the Fremont Police Department. Call 510-790-6800, option 3 to report suspicious activity.
• Keep your roster updated with current contact info and a map of who lives in which house.
• Meet regularly. In order to remain part of the NCW program, groups must meet at least once every year. Attending National Night Out will satisfy this requirement.
• Register your cameras with the Fremont Police Department. For more information on choosing cameras and registering them, see our page on surveillance camera registration. NCW groups with registered cameras may request video surveillance signs from the Fremont Police Department.

How should my neighbors communicate with each other?

Telephone rosters, group chats, flyers, emails, websites, newsletters, and apps have been used by NCW groups to communicate. While some groups have formal meetings, others prefer to be more relaxed with barbecues and block parties. However they communicate, most groups focus on safety and crime prevention.

What are other groups doing?

Some NCW groups are actively involved in community issues such as:

• Neighborhood Beautification
• Traffic Safety
• Activities for Youth
• Emergency Preparedness (C.E.R.T)

The City of Fremont has Special Assistants who help community groups and leaders organize to solve problems and improve their neighborhoods.