ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180071
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Neighborhood-watch volunteers are getting a new weapon for their efforts against crime: cellular telephones.
President Clinton, eager to align himself with anti-crime initiatives, announced Wednesday that the cellular telephone industry is donating 50,000 phones to neighborhood crime watch programs across the country.
Surrounded by 100 volunteer crime fighters wearing florescent orange hats, Clinton said, ``From now on, help will be just a phone call away.''
In about 20,000 locations across the country, volunteers keep an eye on neighborhoods and report problems to police or fire departments.
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, a trade group of wireless carriers, will provide phones and free air time to groups certified by the Community Policing Consortium. The consortium includes several police groups and the Justice Department's community policing department.
The telephones will be pre-programmed to local law enforcement or emergency numbers.
Federal money is not involved. But the White House said Vice President Al Gore asked the industry to help out in June, and Clinton urged citizens in May to join neighborhood watch groups.
With polls showing crime a major issue among voters, White House aides have produced several tough-on-crime initiatives for the president to endorse.
Most of the programs cost little and require no legislative legwork, including his promotion of teen curfews, school uniforms and a plan to track firearms used by juveniles. Republicans have traditionally portrayed theirs as the true anti-crime party.
Referring to his record on crime issues, Clinton declared, ``We're taking another step toward a safer future.
``When drug dealers wear pagers and gang members have cell phones, I think it's time we put high technology on the side of law and order.''
An application from a crime-watch group must be accompanied by the signature of the local police chief or sheriff. The Community Policing Consortium will notify the cellular association of certified community groups.
The association then will tell the local wireless carrier serving the community group, which will provide the phones and air time.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB