
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 23, 1990                   TAG: 9004230286
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

BLACK OFFICERS OFFER TO HELP AT FESTIVAL

The National Black Police Association has offered to send off-duty officers to Virginia Beach this Labor Day weekend to help smooth relations between black students and city police.

"What we're saying is, `We would like to send black officers to work with you; we've got experience doing it.' If they don't want us, that's on them," said Ronald Hampton, national director of the Washington-based organization, which claims 35,000 members.

The group gave the city 15 days to accept or reject the offer.

Last year's Labor Day gathering of students from predominantly black colleges and universities turned violent and Virginia Beach police and National Guardsmen were called out to quell rioting on the city's resort strip.

- Associated Press

by CNB