Gold Hill, Ore.– Eileen smith keeps an eye out for her community through the world wide web.
“It’s a very excellent way to communicate its quick you don’t have to spend a lot of time you know at a glance see whats going on,” said Smith.
She started a neighborhood watch with a twist. Called “It’s just us” the Gold Hill Facebook page. Smith said because of a lack of law enforcementshe and her neighbors want to crack down on criminal activity themselves.
“There’s been a lot of squatters in vacant houses we’ve seen drug paraphernalia laying around parking lots..homeless people,” said Smith.
Gold Hill has one Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy that makes rounds in the small cityand a community service officer that works 20 hours a week. So neighbors say it’s up to them to fill in the gaps.
“I think its the best shot that we’ve got out here especially I don’t know what other communities are like with police but out here we literally haven’t had police in six years,” said Christine Davis.
“As far as the community goes I hope it would make it safer for the children at least,” said Richard Kohl.
Smith launched the page in Mayand it already has seventy followers.
She said it works by people posting anytime they see anything suspicious.
“If we see somebody that looks suspicious, walking down the street, or the other day there was a very very high speed couple of cars that went through town and so one of the neighbors posted to be careful,” said Smith.
A tool she said she also hopes sends a clear message to troublemakers…that the social media Gold Hill has eyes on the streets.
Smith said this Facebook page was inspired by a similar one launched by people who live in Grants Pass. And said if anyone wants to join email her at [email protected].
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