ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, August 25, 1996                TAG: 9608260116
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: A-5  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROANOKE'S C.O.P.E. PROGRAM

C.O.P.E. began in 1991 at the suggestion of a city task force looking into black residents' concerns about police. In Hurt Park, many still voice the complaints heard five years ago: that police are insensitive, overly aggressive and unprofessional.

Officers first patrolled the Lincoln Terrace Housing Development and six months later moved into Hurt Park. Since that time the unit has expanded to Hunt Manor-Brightwood, Jamestown Place, Indian Rock Village and more recently to neighborhoods in Northwest Roanoke - Melrose Avenue, 11th Street and Lafayette Boulevard.

The team has expanded from eight to 16 officers, including officers on bike patrol. Currently, two C.O.P.E. officers are black.

This fiscal year the team is projected to cost taxpayers nearly $400,000. About $40,000 of that will come from funds supplied by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

LENGTH: Short :   32 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  PHILIP HOLMAN Staff. Officer William Engel of the 
          C.O.P.E. unit reads off the name of the player appearing on the ball
          card he's handed out to the youngsters. The cards have become a 
          popular item among children, prompting them to stop the C.O.P.E. van
          when it passes through the neighborhood. color.