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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 22, 1992                   TAG: 9203220022
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                LENGTH: Medium

CONCERNS RAISED THAT TUNNEL WILL INCREASE CRIME

Merchants near the downtown Newport News end of the soon-to-open Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel have visions of a business boom, but some people are worried that the span may bring drug violence.

"It should be a big concern," said Wilbert E. Ashe, a former Newport News Planning Commission member. "As soon as they open it up, they'll be fighting over territory."

London Wills, general manager of a convenience store near the tunnel, said drug dealing already is a problem near his business. He hopes that when the span opens at the end of April, the situation doesn't get worse.

"I would hope that the police force would be willing to beef up security to get control of it from the start," Wills said. "It will be harder to get rid of once it becomes a big problem."

The concerns that violent drug gangs from Norfolk and Portsmouth might use the tunnel to move into Newport News are not lost on the Peninsula city's police and prosecutors.

"As I understand it, it will take only 10 to 15 minutes to get from downtown Portsmouth to downtown Newport News, and obviously Portsmouth and Norfolk have had a lot of drug-related shootings of late," said Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn.

"Certainly there is concern that those people who are dealing drugs in Portsmouth and Norfolk will come to Newport News to broaden their base here," he said. "I hope it doesn't happen."

Newport News Police Chief Jay Carey has met several times recently with Portsmouth Police Chief Ronald Palmer about the potential increase in crime that may result from the bridge-tunnel. But Carey said he has not asked for any additional officers.

"We didn't turn in a budget request for more officers to deal with any perceived increase in workload from the tunnel. But we'll be conscious of it and try to be aware of what to expect," he said.

While the span will bring Newport News closer to South Hampton Roads cities in miles, Carey said it also will bring the police departments closer together in the fight against crime.

by CNB