Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203200196
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Richmond bureau
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
Rollins, 49, a lawyer, has been a deputy secretary for two years and acting secretary since Robert Suthard resigned in December.
Rollins and Wilder said the new secretary's top priority will be to reduce urban violent crime.
"I firmly believe we can make a difference," said Rollins, who left a partnership at the Richmond law firm of McGuire, Woods, Battle and Boothe in 1990 to join Wilder's administration.
Rollins said he plans an anti-crime partnership program including state and local law enforcement agencies and private-sector help to address the rise in urban violence.
He said other priorities will include expanding alternative means of incarcerating non-violent criminals and finding ways to make state prisoners more productive and creative.
Richard Cullen, the U.S. attorney for eastern Virginia and a former Rollins law partner, praised the selection as "a superb choice."
He said Rollins "has the strong support of my office and the federal law enforcement community. He has a big brain and limitless energies."
The secretary of public safety oversees 11 agencies, including the Virginia State Police, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Suthard quit in December amid questions over a cash gift he received from a Japanese foundation that had ties to a company selling computer equipment to the state. He returned the money and has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Attorney General Mary Sue Terry.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.