Neighborhood Watch Is a Tribute to Victims

* Our hearts go out to the surviving family and friends of Keith Brown, who was slain July 23, particularly to his widow and daughter.

As parents of a son who was murdered on July 24, 1993, almost two years to the day of Mr. Brown’s death, we truly understand the pain and grief they are going through.

My wife, like Mrs. Brown, is a block captain active in Neighborhood Watch in our area of West Hills. Quite naturally, we are very concerned about the safety and well-being not only of persons active in Neighborhood Watch, but also of the entire community.

I liken the murder of our son, as a terrible and devastating loss of a very special loved one, to that of a casualty of war.

Society today is at war with the criminal elements that have no regard for life or property and are holding decent, law-abiding citizens hostage. However, as in war, we can lose many battles but we continue to fight on, so we do not lose the war.

I would like to say that anyone who may have questions about the safety and value of Neighborhood Watch pause, if only for a moment, and consider the program’s record of deterring crime. Without it, we will lose the war on crime, and the death not only of our son, but also those of Mr. Brown and countless other victims will have been in vain.

RALPH MYERS

West Hills