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Mayor Tom Brick and Anderson police promote crime watch and senior support at block party
Summary
At a Walnut Street Park block party, Mayor Tom Brick and Anderson Police leaders urged residents to join neighborhood Crime Watch, highlighted Senior Link services for at-risk seniors and showcased K9 and patrol resources available for community outreach.
Mayor Tom Brick opened Anderson City's first annual block party at Walnut Street Park and used the event to promote neighborhood safety programs, senior support services and volunteer opportunities.
The event drew police and fire personnel, vendors and community groups. "We're at Walnut Street Park. We're going to be here till 2:00 today. Free food, all kinds of things for the kids to do," said Chief Mike Lee, Anderson Police Department. Lee pointed residents to on-site crime-watch representatives and a Senior Link table where neighbors can sign up seniors who need regular check-ins.
Why it matters: City officials framed the block party as both a community celebration and a chance to connect residents with public-safety resources. Organizers said neighborhood-level volunteers can extend the reach of police by reporting concerns and supporting vulnerable neighbors.
Chief Mike Lee described community policing as "community-oriented problem solving," saying officers handle longer-term neighborhood issues as well as routine patrols. Mayor Tom Brick noted the patrol division has "just slightly over a hundred" officers overseeing operations and introduced Assistant Chief Norm Rayford, who supervises patrol staffing.
Assistant Chief Norm Rayford said the patrol division remains focused on community policing even when officers serve in patrol roles: "We're all about community policing, even in the patrol division." Rayford and others demonstrated the department's community-facing units, including K9 handlers and a SWAT vehicle at the event. Rayford said the K9s are trained for operational tasks such as searches and narcotics detection but are selected for temperament so they can interact safely with children and seniors.
Mayor Brick encouraged residents to join Crime Watch or attend meetings as a way to help the department: "You can help be the eyes and ears" of the police, he said, and urged people to call 911 for suspicious activity. Second Harvest Food Bank was also on site distributing grocery sacks to attendees.
The block party served as a public reminder of the department's outreach efforts and volunteer opportunities; officials said similar services and resources will be available at upcoming block parties in the city.
