THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508050080
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
ALL OVER THE city Tuesday evening, lights were on and people were out in the streets, walking, talking, picnicking and partying.
They were sending a message.
Directed at criminals, the message was that residents would no longer be afraid to protect their homes, their loved ones and themselves.
Tuesday was the 12th annual National Night Out Against Crime, an event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, a group that has organized and trained communities nationwide to be on the lookout for problems in their neighborhoods. Across the country, about 8,800 communities representing 28 million people were expected to participate.
Last year at least seven of the state's night out participants, including the Naval Security Group Activity Northwest in Chesapeake, won awards for the quality of their celebrations.
In Chesapeake this time, nearly 30 communities marked the event in some way. Police Department officers and top brass and two people dressed as the anti-crime mascot McGruff the dog made the rounds of the parties.
``It's basically a show of force against crime,'' said Deborah A. Holmes, an officer in the Police Department's crime prevention unit. ``It's showing the criminals that people care about their neighborhoods. It's a community awareness type of thing.''
Compared to other large cities, Chesapeake's crime rate leaves officials with relatively little to worry about, said Major Louis J. Tayon, administrative assistant to the police chief.
Based upon the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report, Chesapeake regularly ranks among the top five safest in the country for cities of its size for serious crimes such as murder and burglary, Tayon said.
``We're pretty fortunate,'' he said.
Still, Tayon said, that's no reason to get complacent.
``We want to stay safe,'' he said. ``You need to be cheerleaders and keep people enthusiastic about wanting to do what's right.
``You can have the best police department in the world, but if the citizens don't help you, you're really out there without a paddle.''
Nationally, neighborhood, town and block watch programs encourage residents to keep their eyes open for trouble and report it to police. Residents of active communities also are encouraged to take crime prevention measures, such as properly locking their homes and marking their belongings for easier identification.
Another aim is to get neighbors caring about and looking after each other.
``We have been separated for so long as a nation, as a community, as citizens, that it's time for us to come together,'' said Minister Calvin Rogers, 43, a South Norfolk resident.
Rogers and his neighbors in the area around 22nd, D, and Poindexter streets know what it means to look after each other.
Since forming their Block Watch program a few years back - no one can remember quite when, because it has become such a way of life - they have discouraged much of the drug trade that was rampant around their homes and have saved at least one life.
One woman, who did not wish to be named because she lives alone, suffered a gallbladder attack in her home, became dangerously dehydrated and was unable to get help for herself. If not for alert neighbors who began to get worried about her and called the paramedics, she might have died.
Residents now are coping with a suspected drug dealer who lives nearby.
``I think the neighbors here would do just about anything to help each other,'' said C. Belle Warden, 68, who has lived in South Norfolk since childhood. Warden's father once was police chief of the city of South Norfolk, before the area merged with Norfolk County to become Chesapeake in 1963.
``I've seen the neighborhood change over the years,'' Warden said. ``And right now, it's coming back to being a caring community.
``We had a lot of people roaming the streets, roaming the alleys, selling dope out in the open. But with the Neighborhood Watch program, we've broken up a lot of that. We're trying.''
With covered dishes, grilled hot dogs, a volleyball net and a mosquito tent set up under the tall trees of a vacant lot, residents celebrated their success and their hopes for the future.
``We're hoping that by doing this tonight, we'll stay close,'' said Joyce A. Coleman, 54, coordinator for the Block Watch program there and organizer of the festivities.
Officers from the Police Department's new seven-member community policing unit for South Norfolk joined the party. They will patrol the area on foot, on bikes and in cars, getting to know the residents and their needs.
``We're going to try to find a way to make the community the way it used to be,'' said T.J. Myers, one of the officers assigned to the neighborhood. ``We've had a great response so far.''
Rogers, who has lived in South Norfolk for about 10 years, said he believes community policing, Block Watch and events like the night out will make a big difference for his neighborhood.
``Where there's unity, there's strength, and if we can get the neighbors to work together, I believe we will accomplish so much in this community, the drug dealers will have to move out,'' he said.
A broiling sun didn't stop folks from flocking to the celebration at the Naval Security Group Activity Northwest off Ballahack Road.
The afternoon-long extravaganza, with everything from sports tournaments to question-and-answer sessions about a Sheriff's Department crime dog, was mostly aimed at community awareness.
Anyone was allowed to participate, but the event was geared specifically toward military workers and their families, many of whom hail from other areas and do not know all the resources available to them here.
Resources such as the substance abuse unit of the Chesapeake Community Services Board, and the Chesapeake Extension Service and the Naval Family Services Center.
``I think it's important to know about the community and safety,'' said Gail M. Jerome, 28, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marines.
The naval base's event wasn't all serious, though. A pink-clad clown tied balloons in animal shapes. Kids were invited to ``bean the bandit,'' tossing small bean bags through a hole in a piece of board with the image of a burglar painted on it.
A Coast Guard helicopter was open for inspection. A Sheriff's Department dog named Dutch drooled on all who approached to offer affection. Free hot dogs were offered to those who made the rounds of the displays set up inside a gymnasium.
``The idea is to get crime to leave by giving it a going-away party,'' said R.C. ``Bob'' Anderson, a city fire inspector.
Events like Tuesday's can make a difference in the long run, Anderson said.
``The more people are aware of a problem, the more likely they are to help solve and prevent it,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including cover picture, by STEVE EARLEY
Residents of a South Norfolk neighborhood get together for a cookout
to celebrate National Night Out, America's Night Out Against
Crime.[color cover photo]
Officer T. J. Myers talks with Belle Warden, Joyce Coleman and Kathy
Taylor about their neighborhood security.
Some South Norfolk residents gathered in a lot at 22nd and D streets
for the National Night Out.
Joyce Coleman hands out gifts to the neighborhood children during
the get-together.
Andrew Bennett and Kathy Taylor passed the timeplaying volleyball.
by CNB