The St. Cloud Police Department offers the Dog Walker Watch program

ST. CLOUD (WJON News) – The St. Cloud Police Department has launched a new program aimed at those who enjoy walking their dogs around the neighborhood.

Dog handler watch is a new program designed to provide those who know their neighborhoods with the best basic crime prevention tips, tools and information to help them identify potential problems in their community.

St. Cloud Police Sergeant Tad Hoeschen says the goal of the program is to build a relationship with the dog owners who are out and about in the community every day.

The goal of this program is to empower and empower our neighbors who are out there every day, seeing things in their neighborhood and aware of what may seem a little suspicious. (The goal is to) work with them and get to know them as they get to know us and continue to work with each other.

Throughout the year, Dog Walker Watch receives tips on:

• Report suspicious activity,
• crime prevention tips,
• burglary prevention,
• cameras and alarms,
• Safety in storms.

Hoeschen hopes the program will help dog handlers stay safe in the community and know what to do in an emergency.

So topics like situational awareness, even looking at people who are in a mental health crisis, and some things you should do and some things you shouldn’t do. When to call 911, when to use the non-emergency number. Topics like these or anything people have experienced or witnessed and things they would like to talk about.

The kickoff event will be held on Thursday, May 30th at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Cloud Police Department. Bring your dogs and find out more.

The program is free, but pre-registration is recommended. You can find the link to register here.

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