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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991                   TAG: 9103260223
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Kathy Loan
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DON'T LABEL ALL POLICE AS ANIMALS

The 25-year-old man was beaten, kicked and shocked with a stun gun. The attack was videotaped by an onlooker, shown on national television over and over, and four officers, including a supervising sergeant, have been charged with assault.

But it will be almost equally repugnant if the entire law enforcement profession ends up categorized as savage brutes.

"Since this news has broken, we've received at least two complaints from citizens who felt we had overreacted," said Blacksburg Police Chief Don Carey.

A department review showed the force used in the two incidents was in accordance with policy, he said, and the two citizens decided not to file formal complaints.

Carey called the Los Angeles incident appalling criminal acts.

"It was just a savage beating that had no place in law enforcement, no place in society," he said.

Carey said his officers feel they are under a more watchful eye both from the public and their commanders.

But if officers let fears of public reaction affect their judgment, Carey says it "could have some tragic effects. . .if they hold back from doing something they normally would."

"No doubt the spotlight's gotten a little brighter," said Christiansburg Police Chief Ron Lemons. Police officers are now operating "under the watchful eye of the world."

But Christiansburg police always operate as if they are under a microscope, he said.

Lemons hasn't noticed any increase in complaints about police use of force, but he said having to use force is rare in the town. He has, however, noticed an increase in calls from the media. Suddenly, people "that haven't spoke to me in months" are calling for comments.

In Blacksburg this week, Carey and his department commanders will be reviewing the department's use-of-force policies. The commanders will then go over the policies with their officers.

And plans are under way for a fall seminar with the Montgomery County NAACP and Virginia Tech about dealing with hate crimes. The goal is to make police more sympathetic to victims of hate crimes, which are most often racially motivated, he said.

Carey called the seminar a "first step in opening up a dialogue with diverse cultures."

Radford Police Chief A.C. Earles said his department also has had more calls from citizens - although no formal complaints have been filed.

"We've just had some people griping," he said.

Pearisburg Police Chief Bill Whitsett said the Los Angeles incident "leaves a negative image for law enforcement as a whole. This is something that's going to be long-lasting. Unfortunately, the actions of a few will make the rest suffer."

Whitsett is bothered that Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates has "been victimized by the need to sacrifice someone."

He said allegations that Gates sanctions racism have been general, with no specifics to back them up.

Lemons said, "There's lots of other things that are happening besides police brutality. I just wish to God when the officers do something good. . . it would get a little publicity."

For example, two of Christiansburg's 16 officers served in Desert Storm. More routinely, officers help stranded motorists and help save lives.

"But I guess there's not a headline in an officer doing good," Lemons said.

There are those whose only images of a police officer are the stereotypes played out in movies and television dramas - that of the Southern lawman on the take or the city officer whose prime stakeout is the doughnut shop.

Unfortunately, the deserved media attention on the atrocities committed in Los Angeles and on other incidents will only fuel these perceptions.

Now, when legitimate stops are made, when force is necessary to place a suspect under arrest or to ensure an officer's safety, it's more likely the officers will face a barrage of negative comments.

A television network already has capitalized on the publicity. All last week I saw commercials for a movie, "Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance," touting the true story as the No. 1 concern of all Americans.

Police officers are human, with emotions that sometimes go out of whack. Those officers who do step beyond the law should be punished, even removed from duty. But putting a curse on the whole profession is not the answer.