Ingleside neighbors hire off-duty officer to patrol neighborhood

Residents of Macon’s Ingleside neighborhood have hired an off-duty Macon police officer to patrol their streets beginning tonight.

David Lee, of Riverdale Drive, said neighbors have collected more than $700 to fund the patrol and many other neighbors have committed to donate money.

Neighbors became interested in hiring a police officer following a rash of car burglaries in the area.

They hope to raise enough money to have one officer patrol the neighborhood 20 hours a week for a 90-day trial period.

This story was originally published January 29, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Ingleside neighbors hire off-duty officer to patrol neighborhood."