CWC Surprises Larry Gutridge
With Retirement Party

The CWC (Community Watch Coordinators) is a group of Neighborhood Watch Coordinators that meet once a month to help maintain and build neighborhood watch groups here in Lehigh Acres. Since 2008 when the CWC was formed by Neighborhood Watch Coordinators in the Lehigh area to provide continuing education, motivation and support for each other. Neighborhood Watch groups and coordinators are initially started and trained by Crime Prevention Specialist Larry Gutridge of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office where groups are taught that they are the “eyes and ears” of the Sheriff’s Office.

Gutridge will be retiring January 4, after serving the Lee County Sheriff Office for nine years.

Crime Prevention is the main focus of the CWC and Neighborhood Watches however they are involved in many activiti

es in Lehigh with a goal to help maintain active Neighborhood Watch groups and build strong community bonds. Groups have held neighborhood garage sales, BBQ’s and potlucks, sponsoring fun activities like bounce houses and kids games. In addition to fun activities, Neighborhood Watch groups have also been successful in holding neighborhood cleanups, picking up litter, maintaining and getting roads paved, adding street lights at bus stops and helping maintain property values by utilizing Code Enforcement. Many Lee County government agencies have partnered with the CWC and the Neighborhood Watch Coordinators on a variety projects as have some community action committees in Lehigh; together these agencies have helped the CWC improve Lehigh…”one neighborhood at a time.”

Larry Gutridge has legacay in helping Lehigh Acres became a safer community one Neighborhood Watch at a time.

The CWC meets every month on the third Thursday at 6:30 pm and is open to all Neighborhood Watch coordinators. At these meetings at least one member of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is always present, reporting on current crime trends and to answer any questions. Meeting attendees have had the opportunity to meet many of the Lehigh Acres/Bravo District Deputies and Detectives and learn how they do their jobs and how the citizens can help. Neighborhood Watch Coordinators have also learned through crime stat reports that those neighborhoods that have an active Neighborhood Watch have fewer crimes then in surrounding areas. Neighborhood Watch proves that it can and does prevent crime!