Sanford police chief Cecil Smith says the city’s revamped neighborhood watch program won’t infringe second amendment rights. In a press conference this afternoon, Smith stressed that the program was never intended to have volunteers patrol with a firearm. But Smith also apologized for confusion over comments he made last week.
"I want people to understand we aren’t going out and patting people down and going into their homes along those lines with neighborhood watch", Smith said. "Again, neighborhood watch idea is that we are communicating, talking about the issues and working together.”
Smith said the program isn’t designed to take away people’s second amendment rights, but volunteers will also be trained not to take law enforcement into their own hands. He said block captains will also sign a so-called “hold harmless” agreement releasing the city from liability if they act outside the neighborhood watch guidelines.
The revamped program will be discussed at a community meeting tonight.