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Manhattan Beach council receives Neighborhood Watch partnership policy, asks staff to study Map Your Neighborhood guidance
Summary
The City Council received and filed a formal Manhattan Beach Police Department policy that defines roles and expectations for the 45‑year Neighborhood Watch program. Council asked staff to explore a companion Map Your Neighborhood policy with the Fire Department.
The Manhattan Beach City Council on Aug. 19 received and filed a new policy that formalizes the long‑standing partnership between the police department and the city’s Neighborhood Watch volunteers.
Chief Rachel Johnson told the council the policy codifies arrangements that have been in place informally for decades and “provides structure to a partnership that has been active for more than 45 years.” She said the policy imposes no new fiscal impact and commits the police department to continue assigning a dedicated liaison, provide crime data and coordinate training.
Neighborhood Watch founder Charlotte Leser, who the council recognized earlier in the meeting, underscored the program’s longevity. “It has been my privilege to participate, to engage with, to direct, to work hard over 45 years,” Leser said, describing volunteers’ role in building neighborhood ties and supporting public safety.
The policy document presented by staff reports roughly 400 block captains organized under area coordinators, an executive committee that manages communication, and collaboration with the Map Your Neighborhood program administered by the Fire Department. Chief Johnson highlighted recent neighborhood preparedness work: the Map Your Neighborhood steering committee delivered in‑home training to about 30 community members over the last year.
Council members framed the vote as a formal recognition of an effective volunteer program and asked staff to prepare a similar written policy for the Map Your Neighborhood program so roles and expectations are equally clear across police and fire programs. The council’s action was procedural: it voted to receive and file the policy and directed staff to explore a Map Your Neighborhood policy and return with options.
The council’s action requires no additional budget appropriation; staff said materials and event support will continue to be covered through existing departmental budgets and auctioned surplus equipment where applicable. The council did not change program operations at the meeting; next steps are staff review and a potential policy return tied to the Fire Department’s administration of Map Your Neighborhood.
