COEUR d’ALENE — The Fernan Hill neighborhood that Cora Powers calls home is among the safest in the city. 

It didn’t happen by accident.

“We’re a pretty quiet community up here because we’re watchful,” Powers said. 

She’s the captain of the Fernan Neighborhood Watch Team, a group of about 120 families that look out for one another and their community. 

More than 70 of those neighbors gathered recently for the annual meeting of the neighborhood watch, where they presented first responders with plaques to express their appreciation for their service.

“They do a wonderful job in keeping our community safe on our hill and the neighbors wanted to show their support,” Powers said. 

Though the Fernan Neighborhood Watch Team has existed for many years, it became more serious in 2012, when CJ Krempels took the helm. Krempels headed the neighborhood watch for about six years, at which point Powers and Donna Thurmond took leadership roles. 

“We had no idea what we were getting into,” Powers said with a laugh. 

Powers and Thurmond have worked to increase membership and engagement with the watch. When new residents move in, neighbors welcome them and provide them with packets about topics that are important to the people living in the Fernan Hill area. 

“If you want to live in this neighborhood and enjoy the beauty it has, here are the things to pay attention to,” Powers said. 

Crime prevention is one of the key topics, but it’s one of many. Powers said neighborhood polls showed that residents care about speeding, living with wildlife like deer and turkeys, controlling noxious weeds, keeping the neighborhood litter-free and preventing wildfires. 

Powers said sharing this information is part of a group effort to keep the neighborhood safe. 

“That’s what neighborhood watch is about,” she said. “We keep an eye out for each other. We’re not the ones to judge whether it’s a crime in progress or not. We just pick up the phone.” 

Within city limits, there are 11 “block watch” groups, according to police. Teri Heinrich, a crime prevention officer with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, keeps in contact with the different groups. 

“It’s about building strong community relationships where individual people feel like they can contact the police department,” she said. 

Building those relationships takes time. Heinrich said Coeur d’Alene police engage with the community through block watch groups, as well as events like the recent National Night Out in McEuen Park. 

“I think it’s very impactful,” Heinrich said. “It breaks down barriers so we trust each other.” 

When community members trust law enforcement, Heinrich said, they don’t hesitate to contact police when something goes wrong or seems off. That communication helps increase public safety. 

“Crime’s dropped in Coeur d’Alene,” she said. “This community loves their first responders and I’m very proud of that.” 

In 2024, a total of 637 part 1 crimes were reported in Coeur d’Alene, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. The category includes offenses such as aggravated assault, robbery, arson, rape and homicide. That’s a 12% decrease from 2023, continuing a decade-long trend.  

Part 1 crimes decreased by more than 69% between 2014 and 2024 in Coeur d’Alene, a decade in which the city’s population grew to more than 57,000 people, according to the agency’s annual report. 

For her part, Powers said she feels secure in her neighborhood, largely due to the vigilance of her neighbors. The most recent incident she can recall is someone who allegedly tried to steal mail from a mailbox. 

“It’s safe to say we have very little crime here,” Powers said.