You will find answers to all sorts of questions about Paloma Creek here and on our blog. We love sharing information about the community!

Our unique community causes quite a bit of confusion - even for professional Politicians and Real Estate Brokers. Your home is likely going to be the largest investment that you make in your lifetime. We feel that it is important to not only understand how the neighborhood crime watch works, but also how our government and HOA play a role in our daily lives. It is important to understand their impact since we have such a hyper-local civil structure of government. All of these pieces affect one another on a daily basis.

If you choose to read each question, you will be walked through the relationship step-by-step. You may also decide to skip ahead and read the questions that matter the most to you and yours or use this as a reference at a later date. Our hope is that you will use it since it is a resource with an abundance of information.

No, we are not directly affiliated with anyone; however, since we are all residents of Paloma Creek we will communicate with the HOA and FWSDs as appropriate. We work in partnership with the Little Elm Police Department. Every citizen of Paloma Creek falls underneath the jurisdiction of the Little Elm Police Department because they either live in the Lakeside Estates development which is in the City of Little Elm or they reside in FWSD 8A, 8B, 11A, 11B, or 11C (See "What is Paloma Creek?" for additional information). The FWSDs purchase law enforcement services from Little Elm. Even if you have an Aubrey address because you are North of 380, if you live in Paloma Creek, you are outside of the city limits on the North Side, so LEPD will respond.

All residents who join the Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch are criminally and civilly held responsible for their actions if they are a member of the crime watch - just as they would have been prior to its inception. Being a member of the neighborhood crime watch does not give anyone permission to harass, stalk, and/or confront suspects after seeing a crime occur. Do NOT confront or get involved in a conflict with the suspect. Do not attempt to make a citizen’s arrest or otherwise attempt to “hold” the suspect for authorities. Anyone who participates in any kind of vigilante justice will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are here to observe and report only. By signing up for the neighborhood crime watch, you must understand that this is a boundary that cannot be crossed. It will not be tolerated by the leadership or the Little Elm Police Department. There are no exceptions. This is for your safety as well as everyone else’s.

Most times, the best weapon that one has during a crisis situation is their cell phone. Please use it and call 911 when appropriate.

Paloma Creek is a neighborhood primarily in unincorporated Northeast Denton County. Everyone in Paloma Creek is part of the Paloma Creek HOA (Homeowner's Association). We are located in five Fresh Water Supply Districts (FWSDs) that are 8A, 8B, 11A, 11B, and 11C and the Lakeside Estates development is in Little Elm.

Since Paloma Creek is primarily outside of the city limits, everyone that is South of 380 has a Little Elm address. Everyone that lives North of 380 has an Aubrey address. You will hear these two areas referred to as North and South Paloma Creek, or PC, for short. The differentiation is mainly for postal purposes although we have different voting precincts as well.

Membership has its privileges! It means South Paloma Creek is in Little Elm’s ETJ, extra territorial jurisdiction; however, Little Elm uses the term “Little Elm Adjacent” due to our law enforcement partnership. Although most of us do not live in Little Elm, due to this unique partnership, we are allowed the opportunity to attend their Citizen’s Academy (beginner’s guide to city government), Citizen’s Police Academy, and Citizen’s Fire Academy. We are also allowed to be part of their Citizens On Patrol. You can find links to all four of the programs here.

This is an error that we have been attempting to correct in VAN which is the Voter Access Network. VAN only recognizes street addresses, so people may contact you and urge you to vote (or even run for) town elections. We are not eligible to vote or hold office in Little Elm or Aubrey based off of our street addresses. You must live in the actual town or city (check where to see your property taxes are going - Lakeside is in LE).

While we encourage everyone to vote and vote often, please do not misunderstand what you are able to vote for. Only a small percentage of us actually live in Little Elm. You can tell by the DCAD website, your property taxes, and/or water bill.

Yes, Lakeside Estates is the small percentage that actually lives in Little Elm and is part of Paloma Creek. We share the HOA. They are located on the South side of Paloma Creek on its Western border.

No. This is a common misconception. It likely started due to the fact that portions of Lakeview attend LEISD and have Little Elm addresses (like all of SPC); however, they are NOT in the town of Little Elm. They are in 8-A.

No, North Lake Estates is South of Paloma Creek and borders FWSD 11-A. They are South of Spoonbill which is the last street in South SPC. They are located in 11-B and currently projected to build ninety-seven single family homes. They will enjoy the same infrastructure as everyone else in 11-B which includes Little Elm PD, Aubrey Fire & EMS, City of Denton Dispatch Services, Rhino, Mustang, and Co-Serv. They will have Little Elm addresses for postal purposes.

The Steering Committee has decided to allow our new friends to the south to join provisionally although they have a different HOA. We will set them up in a mentorship program until they are large enough to be self-sustaining. This is beneficial to both communities. When our crime rates go down, we will naturally benefit one another as well.

If you live in North Lake Estates, please contact the Program Coordinator for additional information.

No, you shouldn't believe everything you read on social media. While it may be entertaining at times, it is not considered a reliable source. You can go through the pages of our site and clearly see that we have included all of Paloma Creek because we love all of our neighbors - including tenants. Plus, we didn't name it the South of 380 Crime Watch Group.

Our friends that live in North Lake Estates are even welcome to join although they are not part of Paloma Creek due to their close proximity, their landlocked location, small size, and we share 11-B with them. They will have less than 100 homes upon completion, while we are at approximately 5,600 as of publication.

Please do not confuse them with Lakeside Estates which is part of Paloma Creek, but they are within Little Elm city limits.

You can use Denton County CAD’s property search tool. Type in your name or address and give it several seconds to populate. After you type in your legal last name, comma, and first name, your record(s) will appear in the search results. If you have more than one property listed, click on “See All Results”, select the property record for Paloma Creek, and choose “View Details”. If you only have one record, you can directly click on it. On the left-hand side there is a section labeled “Taxing Jurisdiction”. When you click on it, the category will expand. The last line is the MUD taxing jurisdiction you are in. For example, mine reads “DENTON CO FWSD 11-A”. If you live in Lakeside Estates, it will say “CITY OF LITTLE ELM”.

If you want the EASY way to do it, now that you have learned something new, find your water bill (you might need to scroll down a little). Where does your money go? You can see that mine goes to 11-A.

Fun Fact: They actually divide up a lot of the expenses in Paloma Creek based off of the number of water meters. If the entire community needs something, it isn’t fair for them to pay equal portions because 11-A (where I am) would be rich! On the other hand, all of our friends and neighbors in 11-C would have to be taxed an inordinate amount, purchase bonds, or possibly even move due to increased costs. That is why the water portion of our Fresh Water Supply Districts’ unique setup is important. By using the meters, things are more fair, balanced, and democratic. If you haven’t taken a moment to look at the map, you can scroll to the bottom of the linked site. It will also allow you to go from satellite to street view, move around, click on sections, and zoom in and out.

When you call 911, you are calling the City of Denton. There is a dedicated Dispatcher for our area at all times. We have a contract with the Little Elm Police Department. They are paid to patrol PC with our tax dollars.

No. If you have heard that we will have “delayed” response time because our calls are not routed directly to LEPD, that is false. I will explain why.

While that may have been the case many years ago, we are in the age of technology. We could quite literally route the calls to anywhere in the world and it wouldn’t have any real impact as long as the infrastructure and staffing are in place to support the incoming calls. Once the information is relayed to a Dispatcher, a few things can potentially happen all while you are on the phone:

1) In the event of an extremely time sensitive emergency, a second Dispatcher will work in tandem with the first. The second will often key the information in their computer system while contacting local law enforcement and/or emergency services which frees the first to speak with the caller. They stay on the phone with you until you have verified that help has arrived and ensured you are safe.

2) During a regular emergency situation, you will hear the dispatcher typing as you speak. Then, you will most likely hear a series of electronic tones and even sirens. Occasionally, the dispatcher will place you on hold; however, they generally keep you on the phone while they relay urgent information to waiting law enforcement and/or emergency services. They remain on the phone with you until help has arrived, ensuring that you are safe, and conditions don’t change.

3) When things are urgent, but there is not an imminent threat or danger present, the dispatcher will typically take all of the information and it will be very similar to number two above; however, they will disconnect prior to help arriving if the caller feels comfortable

When you call 911, you are calling the City of Denton since they are contracted to handle dispatch for Little Elm; however, they do not take fire and EMS calls for Paloma Creek which has been confusing for some people. When you call, first you will go to City of Denton Dispatch who patches you to the Denton County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch. Then, they transfer you to DCSO’s Fire/EMS Specialized Dispatchers. Here is what you can do to make it easier for everyone:

When you call say, “I need EMS. I live in Paloma Creek. Please transfer me to a Medical Dispatcher at DCSO.” You will likely need to say it twice. Then ask, “Are you a DCSO Medical Dispatcher?” After that, proceed with the call. They are quite efficient and the transfers take seconds.

Our fire services come from the Navo Station that we contract with through the City of Aubrey.

If you have additional questions about who is responsible for what you may find this blog helpful as well.

In the event of an emergency, you should always call 911; however, if you have a non-emergency please do not tie up the lines for those that need them.

Important phone numbers for Paloma Creek are listed on the Community Information page.

In short, because we do not live in the city and have contracted with them for their services. If you would like to learn more about our unique structure of government, I wrote a blog that explains it. You can find it here. If you have any additional questions, I am happy to address them. Please feel free to ask.

If it is a pet, you can do several things:

1) Proceed with caution and remember you are a stranger

2) Post photos on social media

3) Join the Facebook group named 380 Corridor Missing & Found Pets to see if the pet is listed and you can post

4) Take it to a veterinary clinic to check for a chip

5) Go through the photos on Nextdoor where pets’ photos are listed with their information

6) Call Animal Control at 940-349-1600

If you see wildlife that is minding its own business, please remember it was here first. It does not pose an immediate threat or danger when you are doing your due diligence as a responsible citizen, property owner, and guardian (to furry kids and the regular ones). Please acclimate and educate yourself about the animals we share this beautiful space with. Most of them are like us and aren’t aggressive unless provoked.

If you find hurt or injured wildlife, please contact one of the Game Wardens or a Wildlife Rehabilitator for our area. Game Warden Bulger is my personal favorite in Denton County; however, they are all nice and exceptionally well educated on all law enforcement and environmental matters.

We have the following providers:

Electricity - CoServ

Gas - CoServ

Trash - Rhino Removal

Water - Mustang MUD

There are links to all of their contact information here.

Not unless you live in Lakeside Estates. If you live in an FWSD, please do NOT register it. I will explain in additional detail below.

A lot of alarm companies will use fear as a tactic to attempt to scare you and sell goods and/or services that you do not need, so please beware. The companies that we expect to protect us are not all created equally. You should speak with others in the area, do your research, and select the system that works the best for you and your home’s needs - NOT a salesperson’s. If the salesperson attempts to tell you that Little Elm will not respond to your alarm because it is not registered, this is a fear-mongering technique that they frequently use. It is a lie. They will not ignore an alarm or a call for help.

With that said, if you live in Lakeside Estates you are in Little Elm city limits. Little Elm Town Ordinance #730 requires that alarm system users obtain a permit if they are within the city limits of Little Elm. The permit must be obtained within 30 days of activation of the alarm. The permit must be renewed annually and there is a fee. Please go here to complete the application for Lakeside Estates only. A new tab will open with the document.

If you live in a FWSD, you do NOT need to complete an application and we have been asked not to at this time. City ordinances do not apply to us because we are not in the city. We are part of unincorporated Denton County in FWSDs 8-A, 8-B, 11-A, 11-B, and 11-C. If you have a FWSD as your taxing authority, you are exempt. We are considered “Little Elm Adjacent” since we contract police services from them.

If you live in a FWSD, city ordinances do not apply because we are not in the city. We are part of unincorporated Denton County in FWSDs 8-A, 8-B, 11-A, 11-B, and 11-C. If you have a FWSD as your taxing authority, you are exempt. We are considered “Little Elm adjacent” since we contract police services from them.

With that said, there are laws that are enforceable within 5000 feet of a city and/or school. Little Elm owns the piece of Navo that is in front of Braswell and Bell. We gave it to them years ago in exchange for policing the school zones prior to retaining them for law enforcement services. We also gave them the Southeast corner of South Paloma Creek and 380/University in exchange for the revenue from the tax base so that they would police that area as well due to the convenience store.

If you live in Lakeside Estates, you are inside of Little Elm city limits.

Even though some things are legal that doesn’t mean smart. Here are some key things that you should consider:

1) They are made of unpredictable black powder, are extremely dangerous, can burn fifteen times hotter than boiling water, and should only be used by professionals;

2) You should water prior to/during fireworks season to prevent fire;

3) Littering, disturbing the peace, and making excessive amounts of noise are all illegal;

4) You could be disturbing your neighbors’ sleep/wake schedule;

5) Most animals and pet parents come to hate them;

6) They can be a huge source of anxiety for people with PTSD. It is extremely difficult on a lot of veterans. I am proud to say that there are a lot of vets that reside in PC. Please think of them and their service rather than your “fun”; and

7) THEY ARE PROHIBITED BY THE HOA’S CC&R’s WHICH WE ALL AGREED TO WHEN WE MOVED HERE. You can be fined up to $2,500 per offense.

Absolutely! While we don’t endorse products, there are types that are better than others and many things that you can do to mitigate risk. Please read the blogs for tips and suggestions.

To the best of our collective knowledge, Paloma Creek has not ever had a neighborhood run crime watch program. If we did at one time, it would have been under the auspices of a different law enforcement agency and Sheriff due to the time that has elapsed and the switch to Little Elm Police Department for our law enforcement services instead of DCSO. With that said, why not start fresh even if there was one so long ago?

We do know that there was a Safety Committee that fell underneath the purview of the HOA’s Board of Directors. When the pandemic started, the HOA BOD decided to place it aside to protect public health which was a wise decision due to the surge we were experiencing at the time; however, after that when we started to become vaccinated and reopen, crime began going back up as well. After review with many Attorneys (that are above my pay grade), it was then completely dissolved with the express intent that we, the citizens that live in Paloma Creek, would initiate our own neighborhood crime watch. It should be more effective if it is not under the HOA, or any of the governing boards, since we will have complete autonomy. This is the best scenario for all of us to come together, reinvent ourselves, invite everyone to the table, and partner directly with law enforcement while acting towards the same goals as all of the governing agencies, and having the independence that our unique freedom allows because we are not being directly controlled. We are for the citizens of Paloma Creek and by the citizens of Paloma Creek now for that reason.

No, we are going to leave patrols to the professionals and highly trained volunteers who have been carefully vetted that are part of Citizens On Patrol through the Little Elm Police Department. We will primarily fight crime by proactively getting together, meeting one another, and sharing crime prevention information in our effort to reduce crime. Organized "patrols" by vehicle or on foot are strictly prohibited and will not be endorsed, recognized, allowed, or condoned for any reason at any time by the Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch or the Little Elm Police Department.

Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch is a non-confrontational, observe and report program. No one advocates following, approaching, confronting, intervening with, detaining suspicious people, or otherwise putting themselves and others at risk. Community members are asked to report suspicious people and activities to the Little Elm Police Department. Anyone that takes part in any type of vigilante justice will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

With everything said, I know that there are some of you that may be interested in patrolling. We commend you for that and your service is welcome, but not with the crime watch. We have a terrific alternative for you where you can still serve our community! Please go to the Community Information page located under Resources and check out the Citizen's Police Academy. After its successful completion, you will be eligible to attend Citizens On Patrol through the Little Elm Police Department. Everyone that goes through these programs is fully vetted and trained. It is a commitment. As with everything else, you will get as much out of it as you put into it, but everyone I personally know loves all of the academies including the Citizen’s Government Academy and Citizen’s Fire Academy (they are on the Community Information page too). Although we do not all live in Little Elm, we are all still eligible to apply to attend any of the academies. You might get hooked! When applying, if you live in a FWSD/MUD, please tell them that you live in Paloma Creek and are “Little Elm adjacent”. That will assist in the application process.

There is a detailed description of each position. You can also see all of the open spots and which are filled.

To see a list of the leadership team members, please go here. We are always looking for new people, so even if you would like to explore a role to see if it is a good fit, be an Assistant, act as an Advisor (see here for a list of skills we anticipate will be needed), lend professional expertise, speak with one of us, shadow us, or have an infectious attitude that enjoys helping the community, we would be honored to have you. The only requirements are that you live in Paloma Creek and support the neighborhood crime watch.

No one and everyone. All of the members of the Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch are valued equally and have a unique point of view, perspective, or experience that they may bring. They are what ultimately drives the crime watch. The steering committee is tasked with all of the "heavy lifting". The crime watch coordinator is responsible for day-to-day operations. Please read the detailed descriptions here if you would like to know more.

Please fill out this application. We are happy to have you! We are always looking for fresh faces, new perspectives, extra energy, enthusiasm, and experience! We need people with all sorts of skills. We can find someplace to put you to work. Please check out the list of potential volunteer opportunities. You might be surprised what skills we need.

First and foremost, being a good witness means not placing yourself or others in danger. Call 911 or the non-emergency number (use good judgement depending upon the circumstances) while remaining calm so you can provide the police with critical information. You can also email crime crime tips.

Some people's instincts are to scare suspects away, chase after them, or confront the suspects after seeing a crime occur. Do NOT confront or get involved in a conflict with the suspect. Do NOT attempt to make a citizen’s arrest or “hold” the suspect for authorities. Anyone who participates in any kind of vigilante justice, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Please be a good witness and call the police. Being a good witness will give the police the opportunity to apprehend the suspect(s) as quickly as possible. If the crime involves property, such as larceny from an auto or petty theft, ask yourself "should I risk my safety and well being for a property crime?" The answer is always "no!” You may not see the suspect carrying a gun or a waiting accomplice, but keep in mind that handguns and other weapons are easily concealed and you don’t want to be attacked by anyone - much less multiple people in a desperate situation. The type of crime committed won't tell you what type of suspect you are dealing with.

Never get between a suspect and his/her escape route. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. Optimally, when presented the opportunity without the possibility of endangering yourself or others, continue to monitor any activity you safely can.

A Dispatcher will answer 911 and ask a series of questions relating to the activity you're witnessing. Being able to quickly articulate your location will assist the officers while the dispatchers relay their responses. During this stressful time it's important for you to remain calm so you can clearly answer the dispatcher's questions. Listen to the dispatcher for direction and guidance. Some of the questions may not seem pertinent to you; however, Dispatchers are trained to know exactly what information the officers need in order to respond quickly and safely. This means that a Dispatcher may need to interrupt you while you're relaying information. It is important that during emergencies, your answers are direct and brief. Keep something handy to write additional notes on if you need to. Stay safe and remain calm.

Keep in mind that during emergencies, Officers are usually dispatched by a second Dispatcher as the information is obtained by the dispatcher taking your call. The faster the dispatcher can obtain the necessary information from you, the faster it is relayed to the responding Officers. The dispatcher may let you know when an Officer has arrived on the scene. If the suspect(s) leave before you see Police Officers, tell the dispatcher and let them know:

1) Direction they’re headed (or what are they headed towards if you are directionally challenged);

2) What street they were last seen on;

3) Their method of travel; and

4) Description of the vehicle(s).

When you call to report a crime in progress, the type of information that the dispatcher will likely ask you to supply will include the following:

Your name, location, and phone number

Suspect Information:

1) Sex - Male, female, gender non-conforming;

2) Race - Ethnicity (White, Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Black, etc);

3) Height - Sometimes it may be hard to give a height on a subject, so if possible, use a vertical object to compare the subject's height to and then Officers can later look at the object to determine an approximate height;

4) Weight/Build - Slim, heavy, muscular, etc.;

5) Hair Color - Blonde, red, brown, black, purple, etc.;

6) Style of Hair - Short, long, curly, braided, buzzed, ponytail, wig, extensions, etc.ƒ;

7) Facial Features - Clean shaven, mustache, beard, etc.;

8) Age - Teen, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, senior citizen, etc.;

9) Clothing description - Type and color of shirt (short sleeve, long sleeve, striped, solid, sweater, hoodie, etc.) ;and bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, long shorts, skirt etc.) or dress, coat, hat, etc.; and

10) Any other unusual characteristics or distinguishing features of the subject (tattoos, piercings, scars, glasses, birthmarks, injuries, etc.).

Suspect’s Vehicle:

1) Vehicle Make - Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Harley-Davidson, etc.;

2) Model - Mustang, F-150, Civic, Camry, etc.;

3) Vehicle Style - 2 door, 4 door, wagon, truck, hatchback, SUV, EV, hybrid, convertible, long/short bed, fleet/step side, etc.;

4) Vehicle Color - White, red, black, metallic grey, platinum, gunmetal, royal blue, school bus yellow, purple, orange, etc.;

5) Vehicle License Plate - Even a partial plate is helpful with the make and model;

6) Anything Identifiable - Vehicle body damage (possibly from prior car accident), bumper stickers, custom rims, spoiler, bed liner, toolbox, chrome package, loud muffler, visible donut in use, diesel engine, hitch, kit car, sissy bar, missing/broken lights, rider backrest, saddle bags, (surprisingly) clean or dirty, lift kit, lowered hydraulics, etc.; and

7) Year - If you aren’t a car nut like me, is it new, used, classic, or somewhere in between? The police have databases of photos to assist in narrowing the search for the correct make, model, and year.

Remember safety comes first! Don't be afraid to call the police department. With your help, we can make our community safer.

You are also welcome to print or reference our Incident Report. It isn't a bad idea to keep a printed copy nearby in the event of an emergency; however, if you see something suspicious that you want to record that doesn't merit a call to the police, you can record it and keep the copy. If nothing happens, you still have the information, but if something or someone is missing you could have pivotal information for an investigation.

Incident Reports have two major functions:

1) In the event of a crime, you can have one available to take notes while you call 911 which will make you a better witness.

2) It is also great when you see someone in the neighborhood that looks suspicious; however, they are not doing anything illegal and you do not feel as though it warrants a call to the Police Department. In the event that it becomes a pattern or there is a crime in the area, you will have documented information available to help law enforcement with their investigation.

It requires minimal effort on our part and it could potentially have a large impact in the future. It could even save lives. It is a non-intrusive way of recording anything abnormal and it doesn't needlessly waste taxpayer resources.

Remember safety comes first! Don't be afraid to call the police department. With your help, we can make our community safer.

You are also welcome to print or reference our Incident Report.

This is one of my pet peeves, so I am going to be brutally honest and lay it all out there for you because I have seen cases blown by people with loose lips after years of investigations:

1) You could unknowingly be hampering an ongoing investigation in progress;

2) You could potentially blow the cover off of an operation;

3) You could unknowingly out a CI (Informant) or UC (Undercover), placing their lives, as well as their family and friends in danger;

4) If you feel as though it is important enough to alert hundreds, potentially thousands, of people in your area to a certain behavior or activity, don't you think it warrants alerting law enforcement?

5) Things that happen in cyberspace are forever and the more details you give in a "public" setting, the more likely you are to be targeted;

6) Oversharing can sometimes land you in jail;

7) You can potentially be sued even if your claims are true and if the case is unfounded, lawsuits cost money;

8) Social media activity can pose a threat to prosecutions and the right to a fair trial through practices such as sharing photos prior to an indictment, creation of hate groups, or jurors sharing their thoughts about a case online (BIG no-no);

9) Social media is also being used to as a tool for victim-blaming and shaming;

10) Social media can be weaponized against crime victim's and their families that are exposed to secondary victimization (there is a LOT of that occurring in Denton County currently); and

11) There is a difference between being helpful and gossiping.

While our technology drives the way most of us live our lives and the reach that social media provides is absolutely unprecedented and more powerful than ever before, it’s more important than ever to be careful of what you say and do online, while keeping in mind that nothing is truly private or protected. Once something is out there in cyberspace, it’s out there forever.

Here is the bottom line:

1) If you think it is important enough to tell hundreds of people about online, you should likely call;

2) If you feel as though someone is in imminent danger, you should call 911 immediately; and

3) If you merely find something "odd" that is what the Incident Reports are useful for.

We understand that by posting you are attempting to be a good neighbor, citizen, and protect others, but it often comes with unintended consequences - most that you won't ever know about.

Yes, there is almost always an exception.

If it has been placed on a verified law enforcement social media account, please share it. That is when it is a great time to amplify one another and use the power of the internet.

If it is on Ring or Neighbors, please share that as well. You are probably asking what the difference is between them and all of the other apps. Ring and Neighbors are closely monitored, everyone that posts is “anonymous”, and there is a law enforcement presence. The posts are monitored. Watch out for those bobcats!

Since time is always of the essence with lost, missing, and runaway children and/or endangered populations, I always make an exception for those; however, I only share the original post from the family member. This helps alleviate confusion months and even years later after the person has returned home. By sharing the original post, you are able to see pertinent updates and developments. I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked to share a post about a runaway that is several years old and upon investigation I discovered they are safely home.

You have several choices:

1) If it is currently occurring, use your best judgement whether or not to contact law enforcement;

2) Screenshot the post and report it as inappropriate, but beware that it likely won’t be removed unless there is a Benevolent Admin who is a crime watcher;

3) Keep scrolling - they will stop eventually if you don’t engage, they think that no one cares, and look for another outlet; and/or

4) Ask them, “What did law enforcement say when you contacted them?” This is my personal favorite and go to, but it can be a little confrontational. Be ready for a potential dog pile depending on the platform and group. I hope you have thick skin. Apparently, my name has been changed after two decades from "The Sheriff" to "Crime Watch Karen". I am cool with it. I have been called worse.

There are several things that you can do; however, the Little Elm Police Department has a database of people that may potentially become lost or confused in the event that they leave home. We encourage you to register them with a current photo here. In the event that the person is found, it will make it easier for them to be returned. If they are lost, it will assist with the alert process.

AMBER Alert - Child seventeen or younger who has been abducted and is believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

Blue Alert - Person believed to have harmed, injured, or killed a Police Officer.

Camo Alert - Registered current or former military members struggling with mental illness, including the National Guard, reserve, or auxiliary unit of any branch of the armed forces, who are confirmed missing and their disappearance poses a credible threat to the military member's health and safety or the health and safety of another person. In order to be registered, it is recommended that a letter be written by a licensed health care professional that specializes in mental illness on their letterhead with the following: list of any impairments, syndromes, or diseases that affect their mental health; date of diagnosis; patient's name; and a wet signature from the physician or therapist.

CLEAR Alert (Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue) - Missing, kidnapped, or abducted adult age eighteen to sixty-four who is in immediate danger of injury or death, as well as aid in locating any potential suspects.

Endangered Missing Person Alert - Includes alerts for missing persons of any age with an intellectual disability and there is a credible threat to their health and/or safety. It is similar to wandering incidents in older adults with dementia and includes those with intellectual disabilities (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disorders, severe behavioral disorders, brain injury, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile X, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder), who are also prone to wandering into unsafe environments. Law enforcement requires:

1) Written diagnosis from a Physician or Psychologist licensed to practice within Texas or certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), and/or

2) Texas Department of State Health (DHS) Services to certify the diagnosis.

Silver Alert - Missing senior age sixty-five and older believed to be in danger - especially those who have Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, or other mental disorders.

Active Shooter Alert - Alerts individuals within the proximity of an active shooter situation through their cell phones, local media, Texas Department of Transportation Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), and other resources. The goal is to prevent mass violence, encourage people to avoid the area, and shelter-in-place if needed until given guidance by law enforcement that it is safe to move freely.

Power Outage Alert - Power supply is inadequate to meet the demand for the state or a region. The broadcasters will provide information to the public about the potential grid emergency, as well as resources from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas or any of the four independent organizations that have grid oversight in Texas:

1) Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT),

2) Midwest Reliability Organization,

3) Southeast Reliability Corporation, and

4) Western Electricity Coordinating Council.

National Night Out is held on the first Tuesday of October in our area. You will also see it referred to as NNO. This event is the perfect opportunity for you to meet your neighbors by hosting a block party or community get-together. Do we need an excuse for a party? To obtain additional information about National Night Out, please contact the Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch, Little Elm Police Department‘s Community Services Division via email or call them at 214-975-0465, and/or email the Paloma Creek HOA.

We are not eligible to have the blocks barricaded by LEPD since we are outside of city limits.

Please do not panic or allow yourself to feel overwhelmed. You need to respond calmly, while acting with thought and intention, when cooler heads prevail. A good place to start is by learning the facts surrounding the offense and the date of the offense (when it occurred) and the disposition date (when a judgement was made). Accurate information about the situation can help relieve your fear. Here are some other things you can do to help make you feel more secure:

1) Have a family safety plan - Your family needs to know what to do if anyone - family, friend, clergy, teacher, acquaintance, neighbor, or stranger - approaches anyone sexually. Remember, abuse is most likely to happen with someone you already know. We are surrounded by threats daily. It is our responsibility to mitigate them.

2) Check the RSO database to see the threat level - The state assigns risk in its database to people that are convicted in Texas. It will show on their profile. If they were convicted outside of Texas, they will not have a threat level assigned to them. Please remember that not all convicted sex offenders are required to list and sometimes their registration requirement expires - usually after twenty years. There are many variables that can change the case’s outcome.

3) Meet the person - You may already know this person, their family, or have mutual friends. Even if they are new to Paloma Creek, they are a part of our community now. If the person who sexually abused is open and honest about the past, they may really be trying to change and live a different life. Your support can help. It is also a chance to let them know that you know about their past and are aware of their actions today.

For example, I have been approached by two convicted sex offenders that have disclosed their pasts to me in less than a year since we moved here and another who was accused and exonerated who are our neighbors. While I was already aware of their legal issues due to my background and training, it brought me comfort that they brought up the subject and were open and honest. I already had all of the facts of the cases that were available previously and they told me their versions. One’s record is sealed, so if you search his name, a record can be found; however, it isn’t entirely available to the average citizen. He was not required to list since he was a juvenile offender who turned himself in. The second who was accused, has had her record expunged criminally; however, there are still civil traces of it. The third who is listed on the RSO database did prison time for statutory rape. He has not been in trouble for over twenty years and shows great remorse. He does not make any excuses. Do I background check you all? No; however, after years of being in the industry I can tell when I make someone nervous (for lack of a better word). I am rarely surprised. Being honest and forthright, from both directions, is always the best policy; however, you should not allow yourself to have a false sense of security due to a clean background check or because someone is “such a nice person”. People will often overcompensate in an attempt to conceal something.

4) Notify the police if you see this person in a suspicious situation - Avoid a hostile confrontation. Do NOT make threats, vandalize, stalk, harass, or take revenge against this person as it will put you at legal risk. No matter how you feel about this person, if you see him or her in a suspicious or dangerous situation, call the police. There is no excuse to interfere. Please allow the police to do their jobs. Many people who have sexually abused go on to live productive, abuse-free lives, but not all will make the needed changes in their lives.

5) Please do not “punish” their family, friends, and loved ones for their crime - I have seen far too many relationships break apart due to a family member’s mistake in my career. It is especially tragic when people cut ties with innocent children because their parents have a criminal past or personal struggles. Children are innocent. We do not pick our parents or other family members. A lot of people believe that marriage is forever as well, so they stand beside their spouses against tremendous odds. They will most likely need your friendship more than ever in a time of crisis. You can still have healthy boundaries and established relationships. Yes, it can be difficult; however, they still most likely deserve the same compassion and respect that they did before you discovered they have a relationship with an offender unless they are participating in or enabling the behavior.

6) Don’t wait to take action for prevention - What we do know is that there are people who have been abused in our community, some are already identified, but some are not. Don’t wait until someone is convicted of a sexual offense. Talk to your family now. Make sexual safety a priority all the time.

• Please remember, the ACLU reports, 88% of sexual abuse is never reported to law enforcement

• RAINN statistics show us that children know 93% of their attackers

• Talking to your children about “good touch” and “bad touch” from an early age will help create an open, honest dialogue where they feel more comfortable sharing

Your safety action plan should not change.

This is a legitimate concern and not something that the Steering Committee and the Little Elm Police Department take lightly. We have had lengthy discussions about it. It is an important topic that has been brought to our attention multiple times and we hear you. Everyone deserves the right to feel safe and comfortable in and around their own home - no matter what their color, ethnicity, race, nationality, citizenship status, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, socioeconomic level, amount of education, or perceived “status” in the community is. Unfortunately, that is not the reality that we live in because there are still hateful people, those with implicit bias, and some that are ignorant. The best solution and advice that we have is that we want you to become involved in the neighborhood crime watch. It should represent everyone in Paloma Creek and not one sector or demographic.

If you are a BIPOC, or love someone that is, and concerned about “Crime Watch Karen”, we understand that too. Please understand that our goal is to lower the amount of calls regarding “suspicious” activity that are wrongly reported because we know our neighbors while simultaneously building a sense of community. You can’t be included when you exclude yourself. If you stay in your home, while you may feel protected, it is a false sense of security. We want you to be part of the community as well. Everyone should have the same freedoms and not fear harassment or speculation - especially in and around their home. By meeting the neighbors, we are instantly breaking down those barriers because you are no longer a stranger that was driving in and out of the garage. Now, you are the person next door that is their neighbor and maybe even their friend.

We are proud that Paloma Creek is a diverse community that all sorts of different types of people have decided to call home. Our differences should make us stronger - not pull us apart. They allow us to learn from one another as well by sharing our experiences. People are usually not what we see online in a technology obsessed world. Please get to know your neighbors and consider being in leadership with us. If you are concerned, you are most likely the type of person that should work with us!

DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING

If you find a Sharps and you are on HOA property (e.g., pool, gym, clubhouse) while an employee is on duty, please take a photo and contact the closest employee immediately. In the event that no one is available or you are located on private or municipal/public property (e.g., yard, sidewalk, playground, street), take a photo and call the police department's non-emergency number. Please email the photo to the crime watch Program Coordinator.

Please do not ignore it. Do not look the other way. Be a good neighbor. A child could find it. Small children are low to the ground, unbelievably curious, and learn by putting things in their mouths.

If you see a streetlight that is out, please contact CoServ. Outages can be submitted by phone at 940-321-7800, by email, or on their website. CoServ will need the badge ID number located on the pole to complete the online outage submission.

Safe handling and disposal of used sharps help prevent injuries caused by accidental needlesticks. Unfortunately, many people don’t properly dispose of their used sharps. As a result, other people are injured by used syringes that were carelessly discarded in garbage cans, dropped, or left behind in public places. It’s scary to realize that they have been found in Paloma Creek. We need to be responsible so that there isn’t ever a chance that one of our neighbors or their child might find one again!

We are required to follow the guidelines from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality on appropriate sharps disposal. For safety reasons our trashmen cannot accept any sharps that are not in compliance with their policy which is incorporated with best practices below:

• Do not try to recap the syringe.

• Find a rigid, thick-walled, sealable plastic or metal container big enough to contain the syringe. You should preferably use a Sharps container; however, you can also use bleach or laundry soap if they are properly marked. Make sure the container is labeled as containing needles, sharps, or syringes.

• Use protective gloves if possible.

• Bring the container to the syringe. Walking with an uncapped syringe increases your risk of exposure. That is usually how professionals are stuck.

• Make sure the container is next to the syringe. Think ahead. You don’t want to end up in one room of your home with an uncapped needle and the Sharps container in another.

• Pick up the syringe in the middle of the barrel, never by the needle.

• Place the syringe in the container, sharp end first, and let it drop. Never try to hold the container as you place the syringe inside. You could accidentally stick yourself. Do not force it or overfill it.

• Remove your gloves and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

• Close it and seal it. Then, Reinforce the lid with heavy-duty tape.

• No loose sharps will be collected in trash or recycling.

• Needles, sharps, and syringes may be disposed of in your normal trash bin after following the steps above.

• NEVER place them in recycling.

An inexpensive place to purchase Sharps containers is Chewy.

All of the information can be found on the Advertising page.

No, none of the businesses advertised on the website are endorsed by the HOA, FWSDs, Denton County, Paloma Creek Neighborhood Crime Watch, Aubrey, Aubrey Fire Department, Little Elm, or Little Elm Police Department. If we discover that they falsely advertise themselves as such, their ads will be removed immediately. The residents of Paloma Creek, any and all surrounding areas, that may find advertisements for the businesses listed on this website understand that we do not have any direct affiliation with them, thus they are not endorsed or recommended by anyone listed above. By allowing them to advertise on our website, we are not endorsing them and you are hiring them at your own risk. If you have an issue, we kindly ask that you contact the owner/operator to resolve any potential concerns - especially prior to leaving negative feedback on social media which can be devastating to small businesses. Oftentimes, open and honest communication remedies most situations.

If you don’t want to be named, please let us know. We will remove it as soon as possible. It is never our intent to upset anyone.

Please contact the webmaster who will be happy to fix it. There is a lot of content covered and we all make mistakes. Teamwork makes the dream work! She is the first to admit that she is far from perfect and a work in progress. You will not hurt her feelings. She will be flattered that you read this far. Please pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

If you found us and are interested in partnering with us that is awesome. We would love to work with you. All profits will go directly from the webmaster towards our neighborhood crime watch program. Please contact us at any time. This is a labor intensive project, but we are committed to safety, security, and mentoring. We can customize a plan that will work for and with your budget, level of expertise, and willingness to grow your website beyond a basic starting point.