Lack of communication leads to watch oversight

ALBANY — What was, essentially, a tragically ironic oversight during the city of Albany and Dougherty County’s joint recognition ceremony of neighborhood watch groups in the community last week turned into something of an object lesson on communication — or lack thereof — for all involved.

Members of the Sherwood Acres Neighborhood Watch had no idea that the city/county recognition ceremony was being conducted until they read about it in The Albany Herald the next day. Since the Sherwood Acres group is one of the most active watch groups in the community — regularly taking their community-oriented policing to a new level — several members of the group felt slighted when they learned of their omission from the city/county event.

“The texts, emails and calls I’m getting from members of the Sherwood watch group are all saying the same thing: ‘What did we do wrong?’” Ward III Albany City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher, in whose ward the neighborhood group is located, said Friday. “The things that we say we’d like to see our neighborhood watch groups do, these folks do them. This is important to them, they care.”

Contacted about the apparent oversight, Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful Executive Director Judy Bowels, who works with the watch groups on behalf of the city and county, revealed the disconnect that kept the Sherwood group from receiving its invitation to the celebration.

“I tried to inform the group three different ways: I called and left a voicemail, sent a letter and sent an email to the person who is listed as the contact for the Sherwood group,” Bowles said.

When the long-time KADB director mentioned the person who was listed as the group’s contact person, the miscommunication became obvious. The man who was such a vital part of the Sherwood Acres watch group, Craig Maples, passed away recently.

“That is so unfortunate,” Bowles said when informed of Maples’ death. “I knew that (city Engineering Director) Bruce Maples’ brother had passed away, but I did not know this was the same person.”

Bowles said the omission of the Sherwood Neighborhood Watch group was the result of a lack of communication.

“This should be a lesson for all of us,” she said. “The members of the watch groups have to let us know when there is a change in the person we should contact. It’s incumbent upon all of our groups to stay in touch with us.

“I think it’s obvious that there was no intent to leave anybody out from recognition. Our intent was to thank all of them for the work they do.”

Pam Barkley, who with Sharon Campbell is one of the most active members of the Sherwood Acres group, said she was one of the watch group’s members who read about the recognition program in the paper.

“I contacted B.J. and said, ‘What is this?’” Barkley said. “I couldn’t believe they couldn’t get in touch with us. Tami McCoy helped found this group, and even though she’s moved, when (city/county officials) have contacted her about anything that was going on with the neighborhood watch program, she’s made sure we got the information.

“Somebody could have gotten in touch with Tami or B.J. There are a lot of senior citizens in our group who take what we do very seriously.”

Barkley mentioned the extensive use of the “Next Door” app that allows watch members to alert others about neighborhood issues quickly and events such as a raffle on a quilt made by a Sherwood Acres member to raise funds to spay and neuter feral cats in their neighborhood and a neighborhood yard sale coordinated by the watch group.

“Our public safety folks have been preaching for years how important the neighborhood watch program is,” Fletcher said. “In fact, (Albany Police Department) Chief (Michael) Persley and a number of other city officials have spoken at this watch group’s meetings. I remember the special meeting they had before the election so that (city/county) officials could explain SPLOST to them.

“I checked my email to make sure I didn’t overlook notification about the (recognition) ceremony, and I didn’t see anything. I feel terrible that my constituents feel left out, and I want to offer my personal apology that they were not recognized. I also want to thank them for all they do for our community. These folks do their homework. They care.”