Nationally, it’s a relatively new concept. And now Bellevue is starting its own Paws on Patrol program, one that gets residents paying attention as they walk their pups around Bellevue — assisting law enforcement with extra eyes and ears.

It emulates the Dog Walker Watch program of the National Night Out (NNO) movement. NNO is an annual policing campaign that works to build relationships between the community and police. The organization’s Dog Walker Watch (and Bellevue’s Paws on Patrol) program is another way to do that.

“It is all about getting people’s faces out of their phones and aware of their surroundings,” said Bellevue Police Department (BPD) spokesperson Meeghan Black. “We’re also hoping people who volunteer to do this get to know their neighbors, know their neighborhood and if they see anything suspicious, give us a call.”

There have already been more than 100 residents who signed up to be on the lookout for suspicious activity as they walk their dogs. On July 16 they gathered, along with their crime-fighting partners, at the Wilburton Hill Park for a kickoff event.

There were big dogs. Little dogs. Ones on the hairy side and others, not so much. Their breeds ranged from Chihuahuas to Retrievers. But what they had in common were their special patrol dog tags that hung around their necks and an owner standing at their side.

“An unbelievable percentage of arrests that are made are as a result of a citizen tip, so we heavily rely on citizens to reach out to us and let us know what’s going on in their areas,” officer Jeff Borsheim said. “With Paws on Patrol, specifically, these people are walking their areas many times daily, if not twice a day in all weather conditions. So they know what’s normal in their area way more than we do.”

Melinda DeBruler has been a Bellevue resident for nearly 30 years. She already uses the MyBellevue app to report things. Like, that one time the trees had grown so much it was difficult to see if someone was pulling into the intersection with their car, she said. She took photos and reported the overgrown trees, writing a long narrative about it.

“Whenever I see something that doesn’t look right, I don’t hesitate to check on it,” she said.

Now she’s excited to be a part of Paws on Patrol. She and her dog Booker, a Rhodesian ridgeback, rottweiler and labrador mixed-breed, will use the three to four hours a day spent outside walking as a way to help prevent crime.

“Anything citizens can do to help create a better environment, makes a better city for all of us,” DeBruler said.

For those interested in getting involved, go online to /bit.ly/2XRUzFr.