The North Andover Police have a big job on their hands, keeping the community safe. So luckily they have the help of community volunteers -- the CrimeWatch program.

Police Chief Gallagher and the Board of Selectmen honored the CrimeWatch neighborhood captains -- Lynn Cox, Tracey Zysk, Mark Dockary, Gretchen Gallagher and Deb Savoia -- at the Board of Selectmen meeting this week.

"They are our advocates, they offer us critiques both pro and con, we have numerous meeting throughout the year," Gallagher said.

North Andover's CrimeWatch program launched in February 2008. Then-Chief Stanley launched the program as a way to foster more communication between police and the community.

And CrimeWatch has helped develop National Night Out into the massive extravaganaza you see each summer in town.

"These ladies, and Mark, Dockery, have made it such a success," Galagher said. All the years we've been doing it, you see them at the gates, they don't even see National Night Out because they're on the front lines."

Block captains host meetings on a regular basis to educate neighbors about community safety and also work with the police on safety issues in the community.

"They're just great people, I consider them my neighbors and my friends. They're not shy about letting me know their feelings," Gallagher said. "They're all proponents of the community, they love North Andover."