THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504020013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Police Chief Melvin C. High and other city officials credit PACE, the city's community policing program, with helping to reduce crime. Some, however, are not so sure.
Community policing is a relatively new concept that enlists residents to share responsibility with the police for the everyday safety of their neighborhoods.
The many facets of PACE all are designed to help residents work with officers and city officials to identify potential problems. A strong emphasis is put on preventing crime.
But some police say that PACE - Police Assisted Community Enforcement - is not working as it should. They say some crimes appear to be dropping partly because residents have given up reporting them.
A morale survey, released in February by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and the Fraternal Order of Police, stated that officers do not understand the PACE program.
The survey also indicated that officers do not think residents are sharing the burden in the anti-crime partnership and do not think that PACE has improved communication or cooperation between the police and citizens.
But Sgt. Wally Driskell of the police department's crime-prevention unit gives plenty of credit to Norfolk residents for helping curb crime. And, he says, they have more confidence in the police.
``People in the past have not bothered to report some offenses because they feel it's a waste of their time and they rationalize, `What can they do?' '' said Driskell.
Now, many don't hesitate to call police, even before a crime occurs.
High and his predecessor, Henry P. Henson, both want to keep crime levels down, but they differ on the best method.
High says PACE is the most efficient and cost-effective way of creating a safer city. He received solid support from the city's civic leagues when the FOP and the police union went public with criticism of his management style.
Henson, meanwhile, is out trying to convince taxpayers that 306 more officers should be added to Norfolk's 668-member force. He estimates the yearly cost at $9.9 million.
The former chief tells civic leagues and other groups that community policing is good, but it's not enough.
``We need to go to the goal of making people feel comfortable that they are not likely to be a victim of a crime,'' Henson said. ``Once the average law-abiding citizen sees that there is coverage, they're going to feel better about the safety.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
COMMUNITY POLICING
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: CRIME NORFOLK STATISTICS by CNB