The Coplay Town Watch group is starting a program for dog walkers called the Dog Walker Watch program.

"The DWW is an effort to reach out to our community, as well as helping Coplay by promoting and monitoring public safety," said president of the CTW Bill Leiner. "It simply is asking people who walk their dogs to learn town watching principles and apply them as they take their dog for their daily walk."

The DWW, which is open to all Coplay residents, will train participants to be alert of certain situations.

Situations a DWW participant will be looking for include screams or calls for help, a suspicious person lurking around, peering into cars or homes, a stranger removing items from unoccupied homes or closed businesses, vehicles cruising slowly or without lights, anyone being forced into a vehicle, a stranger stopping to talk to a child and any other condition a participant feels is not safe.

If a participant hears or sees any suspicious activity, they are instructed to call non-emergency dispatch and tell the dispatcher they are a Coplay Town Watch member and want to report suspicious activity.

"Every resident, has a stake in, and a responsibility for public safety. We all need to watch out for our community and neighbors," Leiner said.

Currently there are no plans for DWW members to wear any type of decal or specific article of clothing to alert residents they are a part of this program. The decision to wear an identifier will be determined by the CTW and DWW members.

To date, four families have expressed interest in the program.

"If we get ten families involved we will have done very well," Leiner said.

The DWW is a program developed by the National Association of Town Watch. They have been the parent group of the Coplay Town Watch since 1996. The association reached out to their members, asking groups to consider participating.

Leiner said the DWW will benefit Coplay and create a safe area for residents.

"The benefits of having a safe community cannot be calculated," Leiner said.

The Coplay Crime Watch was founded July 12, 1995. In January of 2004, the Coplay Crime Watch officially changed its name to the Coplay Town Watch and widened its mission.

Since 2004 the crime watch has developed the National Night Out Committee, Neighborhood Watch Committee, Fund Raising Committee, Properties of Merit Committee, Sunday Watch Walk Committee, Children's Bike Derby Committee and the Feral Cat Committee.

The CTW has received six national awards from the association for the National Night Out Against Crime event that is held annually in August.

"One would have to look far and wide to find a better organized, active watch group as the CTW," Leiner said.