THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9411110899
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
The video technology is state of the art, worthy of a Brave New World control center. The rules you must follow while on camera are simply the manners your folks should have taught you.
At a cost approaching $1 million, Coliseum Mall has installed a security video system that allows guards to watch all parking lots, interior walkways and eating areas. Cameras continuously feed video to television monitors in several locations. The monitors are staffed every hour of every day.
At the same time, the mall has established a customer-conduct policy based on old-fashioned manners, as necessary today as they were in generations past, mall officials say.
Those officials, along with representatives of the Hampton Police Department and the Hampton city government, unveiled the security system and a list of manners for shoppers on Thursday. They pledged to make Coliseum Mall the most secure - and well-behaved - shopping complex in Hampton Roads.
``We welcome everyone,'' said Raymond Tripp, the mall's general manager, ``but insist that everyone behave within the boundaries of decency and respect expected in a civilized society.''
Code of conduct cards that outline proper ``Coliseum Mall Manners'' will be handed out to all shoppers, Tripp said.
Shoppers are forbidden to loiter or to sit on floors, planters or trash cans. Appropriate dress is required, and no yelling, singing, littering, running or cursing will be allowed.
The rules, said Anne Marie Haverkamp, director of marketing for the mall, ``will be politely but firmly enforced.''
According to the conduct cards, ``If you don't obey these rules, or if you fail to comply with lawful and reasonable requests by Coliseum Mall Management or Security, you will be asked to leave the Mall.''
Those refusing to leave will be arrested and prosecuted for criminal trespass, the cards warn.
Tripp said the old-fashioned approach to etiquette is necessary because ``whenever and wherever large numbers of people come together, it's imperative that long-accepted rules of manners, courtesy and common respect be practiced.''
There is nothing traditional, however, about the technology, the real star of Thursday's presentation.
Tripp admitted that several highly publicized incidents that have occurred recently at the mall - including the discovery of an explosive device on June 17 - have made the new system necessary. A state police officer, Vernon Richards, was arrested and charged in September with planting the device. He is awaiting trial.
William J. Story IV, the mall's security chief, said the new TV system might have foiled or at least discouraged the planting the device.
``There is a definite possibility that event or any event of that type could have been picked up,'' Story said.
Eventually, Story said, the video cameras will be hooked into the private video systems already in place at Coliseum stores so that the entire mall will be visible to security guards at all times.
``We now have in place the first stage of a long-term program to build the most effective, comprehensive private security system in the region and one that I believe will be among the best in the country,'' said Story, who was formerly security chief at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach.
Story said the combination of technology, enforcement and education makes Coliseum's level of capability ``rare, if not unique, in the shopping center industry.''
Hampton Police Chief Pat Minetti praised the security moves, including the positioning of a monitor site in the middle of the mall where customers can see the television screens.
``What you have here is perception,'' Minetti said. ``And perception is reality. When people walk in here, they don't have to ask if there is any security. It is very visible.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
GARY C. KNAPP
Monika Foster works the monitors at Coliseum Mall in Hampton, where
the new video system - worth nearly $1 million - was announced
Thursday.
Graphic
COLISEUM MALL'S RULES OF ETIQUETTE
1. Loitering, sitting on floors, planters or trash cans will not
be permitted.
2. Physically or verbally threatening any person, fighting,
annoying others through noisy or boisterous activities, staring at
or stalking a person through the Mall will not be permitted.
3. Using sexually offensive language or conduct, or in any way
creating a disturbance which interferes, disrupts or endangers the
Mall's patrons will not be permitted.
4. Do not litter or damage any Mall property with graffiti. There
are trash cans throughout the Mall. Please use them.
5. Do not run, skate, skateboard, bicycle or do anything that may
injure people or block normal traffic in the Mall.
6. Drinking or having open cans or bottles of alcohol will not be
permitted.
7. Yelling, singing or playing musical instruments, radios and
tape players without head phones will not be allowed in the Mall.
8. Appropriate dress is required at all times. If you are not
fully clothed, or wear clothes that are likely to cause a
disturbance, you will be asked to leave Mall property.
9. At closing time, please leave the Mall promptly.
by CNB