THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130400
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Last month, seven people were killed in this city, and some residents have told the council that it seems no one cares.
``People are amazed that there are so many homicides and they're not getting solved,'' Councilman Bernard D. Griffin said.
``They don't feel safe in their neighborhoods. They don't feel confident about police protection, and they want more police visibility.''
Portsmouth, with 28 murders so far this year, has already exceeded the total for all of 1994, which was 22. Last year, according to police reports, Portsmouth's department solved only 40 percent of its homicides - the lowest rate of any Hampton Roads city.
But, Griffin said, citizens also place blame on the City Council.
``They feel that the council should be more aggressive in speaking out against crime, especially violent crime,'' Griffin said. ``They believe that the leadership is possibly becoming complacent.''
On Monday, the council asked Police Chief Dennis Mook to present a public safety report. The council wanted to know what steps the police were taking to combat crime, so they could share it with the public.
Somehow, signals got crossed.
The council received a message from Mook that his plans were too sensitive to be discussed in public.
But Mook said it was a matter of miscommunication.
He said he was under the impression that he had been excused by the council and that the report had been removed from its agenda.
Mook said he never could get a clear idea what the council wanted from him, and that he was willing to give a public report but could not discuss ongoing investigations in an open session.
On Tuesday, the mayor cleared up the confusion, and the chief is expected to give a general report within the next month.
``I'm always glad to get that out,'' Mook said. ``I just can't give out any information that would jeopardize an investigation.''
Mook said he has talked to 30 neighborhood groups in the past 18 months on his department's efforts to stop crime.
But some citizens want more.
``The neighborhood patrols don't feel like the leadership is speaking out against crime,'' Griffin said. ``There is a lot of concern in the community about the rates of death of our youth. The council has got to know what the police are going to do to combat these problems.''
Webb said a public report by Mook and the council would serve notice to criminals that the city is not ignoring crime. It would also let people in the community know that the police and the city's leaders are concerned about the rising number of murders and that there is a plan to deal with the problem.
Griffin said he plans to get the public involved as part of the solution.
``In order for them to effectively carry out their job, they (the police) are going to have to get support from the public,'' he said.
Griffin said he plans to bring people together from the schools, neighborhood patrols and the civic leagues to discuss what needs to be done and how citizens can work better with the Police Department.
``We have a responsibility as citizens to try to make our neighborhoods safe,'' Griffin said.
``If that means that somebody needs to talk to us in terms of more parental guidance, more adults at different activities, or more recreation for our youth, we need some answers to those problems, and we need to share that with the public.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Police Chief Dennis Mook probably will present a public safety
report to the council in the next month.
KEYWORDS: CRIME PORTSMOUTH by CNB