Congratulations, Gene Thatcher, for being honored as the 2019 District 1 Neighborhood Block Captain of the Year by the Orlando Police Department and the City of Orlando.  

Gene has been a resident of Laureate Park since 2016. From the beginning, Gene actively made it her mission to meet her neighbors. There was a small group of residents pulling together a Neighborhood Watch. Gene immediately volunteered to be part of this grassroots group. Since then, she has tirelessly worked to keep the LP community safe and developed a fantastic relationship with the City of Orlando, Orlando Police Department, and Orlando Fire Department on behalf of the LP community. Gene was nominated for this award by District 1 Commissioner Jim Gray.  

Gene has led the effort to communicate the value of a Neighborhood Watch Program (eyes and ears in the community to support the OPD). She coordinates the effort to develop a network of block captains (meet your neighbors, share concerns, pick up packages for each other, prepare for hurricanes, and hold block parties), annually organizes a National Night Out celebration, regularly promotes the #9pmroutine on the LP social media sites (nightly checklist that includes checking to make sure vehicles are locked, garage doors closed, doors/windows locked), and encourages participation in the Dog Walker Watch program (they walk their dog three miles every day throughout the many trails/paths in LP and report suspicious activities).

In addition, Gene can be found volunteering at her two children’s schools, training their black lab as a therapy dog, and supporting the many community events for her friends and neighbors in LP.  

In everything Gene does, she does it with unbridled enthusiasm and a smile.  CONGRATULATIONS, Gene, on being named the 2019 District 1 Block Captain of the year! You make Laureate Park proud.