"In September 2011, the Twin Lakes residents held an organizational meeting to create a neighborhood watch program.
Zimmerman was selected by neighbors as the program's coordinator, according to Wendy Dorival, Neighborhood Watch organizer for the Sanford Police Department.[6][6][91]"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/25/george-zimmerman-trial-neighbourhood-watchSecond-day testimony focuses on Zimmerman's role as unofficial neighbourhood watch leader who was recruited by Florida policeProsecutors in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial in Sanford have portrayed the defendant as an overzealous vigilante who profiled, pursued and shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black youth he spotted in the Retreat at Twin Lakes gated estate on 26 February last year.
But
the volunteer programme co-ordinator for the city's police department told the jury that she found Zimmerman, 29, to be an always "polite, courteous and respectful" resident
whom she tried to persuade to become law enforcement's formal "eyes and ears" for his community."He seemed like he really wanted to make changes in his community, to make it better," Wendy Dorival said under cross-examination by Zimmerman's attorney, Don West.
"I wanted to recruit him to be a citizen on patrol volunteer, but he said no."She said that it would have involved a four or five week training programme after which Zimmerman would have been allowed to wear a polo shirt-style uniform and patrol the community in a marked car with amber lights.
Dorival said she thought he possessed qualities that would have made him a good candidate for the program. "His demeanor, the way he interacted with me, his high interest in being involved in his community and the city of Sanford," led her to recommend him, she told prosecutor John Guy.
