When I was younger (30's), I lived in Detroit, MI in a beautiful neighborhood. I was involved in Neighborhood Watch Program for our block. Each block meet and decide how to run it independent of each other. We met with the Detroit Police Officer from the 5th Precinct (five blocks from us) who was Public Relation/Community Service Officer. He taught was to how to organize, what to do and not do. The elected Captain went to workshops to carry back the information to fellow neighbors. (with hand outs etc).
The captains of the different blocks meet once a month to exchange information too (suggestion by the Police) if their is problems in their area, etc.
No one in the other blocks organized in such a way where they patrolled their block. Most did alot of prevention to make sure our homes were secure and helped each other to watch homes when each other went on vacation, etc.
Most of what was taught was observation and if behaviors were such to worry homeowners then call the police to come out and investigate.
So based on my experience as part of a wonderful organization that really does work, I have a problem with Zimmerman taking it upon himself to patrol the neighborhood. I have not heard heard that others rotated to patrol so I am going to infer he got into it with zeal to be the unofficial "cop" of the neighborhood. That is dangerous which prove it self in the long run.
JMHO
