When the new Tosa Pool at Hoyt Park opens, the lifeguards won't be the only eyes keeping watch.
During today's Tosa's Night Out kickoff lunch at Alioto's, the Wauwatosa Neighborhood Watch Committee donated $8,000 to the Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool for the purchase of surveillance cameras, said Harry Kohal, committee president.
The Wauwatosa Police Department will be able to monitor the cameras remotely, even from patrol cars, and pool staff members will be able to monitor feed as well, said Paul Leist, a patrol specialist with the Community Support Division of the Wauwatosa Police Department.
The committee holds fundraisers throughout the year, such as the upcoming Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast, a joint effort with Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers. In the past, the money raised has helped pay for a new police motorcycle and replaced traffic vests and bullet-proof vests for officers.
'Wauwatosa is a great community, and we want to keep it safe,' Kohal said.
Kohal handed the check for the cameras to Denise Lindberg, Friends executive director. She said representatives from the Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and County Parks Department would be getting together in the next month to create a patrol plan for the park.
In addition, she announced that police and fire employees who show their badge at the pool will be allowed to swim laps for free.
'That supports the health and wellness of our safety officers,' she said.
The Neighborhood Watch Committee works with the Police Department to organize Tosa's Night Out, which will be held Aug. 2.
The luncheon is used to announce the year's event sponsors and unveil a new logo that will appear on T-shirts, goodie bags and promotional materials.
Froedtert Hospital is returning as the major sponsor. Dave & Buster's will sponsor the fireworks and WaterStone Bank is covering the coloring contest and goodie bags - making both companies True Blue sponsors contributing at least $5,000. American Transmission Co. makes the jump from a lower-tier of sponsorship to the True Blue category, committing to support the children's area.
Still, the event has lost a few sponsors in the past year so more are needed to fill the void, Leist said. The food court will likely be revamped and a sponsor is needed for that portion of the event.
This year, a new website, TosasNightOut.org, will keep Wauwatosa residents up to date about what's in store for Night Out. In addition, there are plans to provide Block Watch information on the site.