Safety in Aurora, Illinois, and the Citizen Observer Program

When I tell people that I live in Aurora, Illinois, they have one of the following two reactions: they ask if I live close to the casino, or they ask if I live close to Naperville. There are implications with each of these statements. Those who ask about the areas immediately surrounding downtown Aurora are essentially asking just how safe my neighborhood is. Admittedly, there are areas in Aurora that are slightly questionable, and possibly even unsafe. But Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner is making sure we're worrying less and enjoying our city more.

In December, Aurora police announced a web-based program called Citizen Observer that allows for virtual alerts about crimes and incidents in the city. Residents and business can sign up for this service and receive information on wanted and missing persons, new crime alerts, and trends, and have the opportunity to share any insight you may have on criminal or suspicious activities. The web site can be found at www.citizenlobserver.com and is supported by the city's police department.

The police chief and the mayor announced that Aurora has joined this nation wide initiative in order to bring the community closer together and to assure residents' safety. As a result of joining Citizen Observer, Aurora has accomplished the following initiatives:

The city has issued a public announcement on burglary prevention tips, helping residents proof their homes against unwanted intruders.

The city has assisted in several business related incidents, and issued recommendations for taverns and bars on handling large groups of unruly patrons.

The city promoted Citizen's Police Academy and received a great response to these efforts.

The city issued security photos for a lottery scam, alerting the community businesses of attempted criminal activity.

The Citizen Observer initiative is being funded by the East Aurora Weed and Seed grant administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

To sign up for alerts, visit citizenoberver.com, and find Aurora in the neighborhood list. New alerts will be listed on the site. Make sure to sign up and stay informed. Don't make excuses for not signing up. It is important that you are aware of happenings in the community - from missing persons reports to helpful tips from the police department, from mug shots to scam alerts, whether you are a business owner or a concerned resident, you will surely benefit from these alerts.

Sources:
City of Aurora, aurora-il.org
CitizenObserver.com