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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994                   TAG: 9403240200
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

STATE POLICE CHIEF REASSIGNED

State Police Superintendent Carl Baker, who had been under fire from the National Rifle Association because of his support for the state's one-handgun-a-month purchase limit, was reassigned Wednesday as a deputy secretary of public safety.

Gov. George Allen named Wayne Huggins of Fairfax, who headed the National Institute of Corrections during the Bush administration, to replace Baker.

The selection ended a heated backstage controversy between pro-gun activists - who waged a letter-writing campaign against Baker - and more moderate friends of the superintendent, including Republicans such as former U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen.

Some law-enforcement experts questioned the selection of a state police superintendent whose most recent experience is in the corrections field.

But others applauded the selection and the decision to keep Baker as a deputy secretary whose responsibilities will include cabinet-level oversight of the police.

Those individuals said Allen's action manages to satisfy competing interests, avoids losing Baker's services and brings to the state police helm an individual with a broad range of experience.

by CNB