THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240241
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
It happened on St. Patrick's Day.
``There were four or five boys playing basketball,'' said Barbara Ballard of Deerwood Trace, a quiet multiracial neighborhood off Great Neck Road. ``A man came down the street, driving slowly. When he saw the boys he stopped and asked them to get into his car. He said he was a nice man. They didn't and he drove away.
``But later he appeared on another street and someone recognized his vehicle and got the plate number. The police got five calls about it. They talked to the man. Neighborhood Watch works.''
That incident and others involving break-ins and the possible sale and use of drugs in and around the 20-year-old subdivision have galvanized concerned residents into action. They are angry and confused by what they sense may be a change in their community. The watch program is their answer, their response that they won't simply sit still and let it happen.
Ballard is one of 14 neighbors who have volunteered to serve as block captains in the recently instituted program. She and Bernie Fay, who has lived there since 1975, are the prime movers. Fay claims to have signed up about 130 of the residents in the 157 townhouses.
``We used to have a civic association,'' said Fay, ``but it dwindled. But this is our way of saying, `Hey, we're not going to stand for this.' ''
``It was my idea,'' added Ballard. ``I contacted Bernie and the police. They came out here and explained how to get it going.''
About 35 people squeezed into the living room of Mary Stevens' townhouse in the 2500 block of Longleaf Court last Wednesday hoping to preserve peace and quiet in their neighborhood. Those present listened - and sounded off - to Sgt. Kevin Perry, chief of the Narcotics Division of the Virginia Beach Police Department, who came to address residents' concerns. Perry promised straight talk.
``We can't cure the world,'' he noted. ``Police departments are largely reactive and undermanned. You have to have realistic expectations of what we can do.''
Perry asked that residents file timely reports when they have a concern. He assured those present that calls will be kept confidential if requested.
And he pledged to inform Fay of any police action, such as searches, arrests or making a case inactive. He asked for understanding when a case is under investigation.
``If it's under investigation I won't tell you anything about it until the end,'' he said.
Those present bombarded Perry with questions concerning kids, curfews and the law. Perry invited them to visit the courthouse to find out firsthand how rules of evidence are applied.
Others offered suggestions such as landscaping to help maintain the neighborhood.
Perry also told the residents that based on the degree of interest shown by those present, they were ``75 or 80 percent of the way there'' to solving their problems.
After Perry left, someone pointed out that, based on the percentage of residents who had signed up, they could obtain a free ``Neighborhood Watch'' sign from the city. They decided to ante up $1 each to purchase four additional signs.
``We need it,'' said Pat Ingram, referring to the watch program. ``Based on the incident with the kids alone, I'm glad we started it. I'm all for it.'' by CNB