History

 In the mid-1990s, residents living in the Capital Park, Star Hill, and Palmer Park neighborhoods found a growing drug problem existed within their communities. The residents of these communities did not feel safe in and around their homes. 

 One resident, the Reverend Patricia Hercules, decided something needed to be done to combat these illegal activities.  She took it upon herself to bring attention to this dilemma. She did this first by praying out loud in front of the homes of these drug traffickers and then worked with the Delaware State Police to dislodge these criminals from their neighborhoods.

 As a result of her brave efforts and police arrests, the drug trade was significantly reduced as had other criminal activities that have dominated these neighborhoods.   To continue the fight against crime she founded the Kent County Crime Watch of Delaware in 1996.

 Reverend Hercules organized a formal group of concerned citizens to promote crime reduction, increase public safety, and improve the overall quality of life throughout all Kent County.  The first meeting was held at the Delaware State Police headquarters in Dover. Their bylaws were approved in June giving the growing group a firm foundation to conduct its mission. The membership grew to 28 communities by December 2008 as more county residents became aware of the organization’s benefits.

 Today the Kent County Crime Watch consists of more than one hundred and twenty-five communities and neighborhoods throughout Kent County. We administer various forums and serve as an advocate to over 250 members. We partnered with the Delaware State Police and other law enforcement agencies to supply information about recent criminal activity, tips on crime prevention and home safety, and support individual crime watch programs.

 Our membership meeting is held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Kent County Administrative Complex in the Levy Court Chambers and is open to all Kent County residents.