The City of Maricopa has launched a new Business Watch program. The initiative connects local businesses with police to prevent crime and improve safety. It brings the neighborhood watch concept to the business community. Police Chief Mark Goodman announced the program at the October 7 City Council meeting, following an inaugural meeting held on September 24.
Finding Our Way: Budget Theme Drives New Initiative
City Manager Benjamin Bitter explained how the Business Watch program emerged from the city’s 2025 budget theme, “Finding Our Way.” The theme challenges city departments to deliver more services and exceed past performance.
“How are we going to find our way to become something more, to provide some more services, to do something more above and beyond what we’ve done to this point?” Bitter said during the meeting.
The program answered a specific request from Maricopa’s business community asking what they could do to reduce crime rather than create an environment that adds to it. The city has already seen crime rates decline over the past year, according to the police chief’s annual report.
Business Watch Program Mirrors Neighborhood Watch Success
The Business Watch program in Maricopa follows the same model as the city’s successful neighborhood watch program. Chief Goodman outlined the core mission during his report to the council.
“The goal is to engage our businesses so that it can be vibrant and successful and safe, and encourage the people that both work, live and play here in Maricopa, to frequent our businesses and so that everyone can be successful together,” Goodman said.
The program connects businesses with the police department, city resources, and each other.
September Meeting Draws Major Online Audience
The inaugural meeting took place at the city library on the morning of September 24. Eight to ten businesses attended in person, while Council Member Amber Liermann’s Facebook livestream drew over 1,000 participants.
“It was really a great opportunity to get to know some of those businesses,” Goodman said.
Phased Rollout Targets All Business Districts
Chief Goodman explained the strategic approach to reaching businesses across the city.
“We started with the Fry’s Shopping Center and we’re gonna jump over to the Bass side of John Wayne Parkway. We’ll make our way down to the Walmart area and eventually have the opportunity to engage almost every large and small business here in the city of Maricopa,” Goodman said.
The department has already connected with both of Maricopa’s chambers of commerce and plans to deliver presentations upon request. Goodman invited suggestions about how the department can better engage with businesses.
