rlgod

I'm not sure how they're funded but I imagine it'd be part tax funded and mostly a volunteer effort within communities.

It sounds like a good idea to me. I'm from Australia and we have something here called 'Neighbourhood Watch' which isn't dissimilar to what you're suggesting. Detailed information on how it works can be found here: http://www.nhw.com.au/faq.

We also have a crime hotline called Crime Stoppers (https://crimestoppers.com.au/) which anybody can call to report a suspicious person or crime that they may have witnessed. These are both in addition to our normal emergency services hotline.

So I would suggest that your idea is sound in its intent and I hope you have not too difficult a time trying to put forward an implementation in your community.