THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220182
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHAEL MILNER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
What do citizens of Nigeria, Canada, the Bahamas and Portsmouth have in common? All are struggling to find solutions for an epidemic of violent crime and its paralyzing effect on the communities.
The upcoming conference in Portsmouth of the International Association of Community-Police Relations Officers will bring together police officers and professional community relations experts from across the world to exchange information and ideas in a workshop environment.
Portsmouth will host the IACPRO's 24th annual Training Conference, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, at the Holiday Inn Portsmouth Waterfront.
The IACPRO is a non-profit, non-political organization that was established in 1970 to foster better community relations between law enforcement agencies and citizens.
Portsmouth is no stranger to violent crime, as reported by local news media, and Portsmouth residents are highly encouraged to participate in the conference's workshops. Topics include safety and firearms education, senior citizen safety, gang violence, black on black crime, problems facing youth today, victims of crime and community policing.
``Community policing'' is more than just a catchy mantra that politicians invoke as a panacea for the current crime epidemic, according to Portsmouth Detective Leon Whitehurst, a crime prevention officer. It has been an innovative and effective way of getting local law enforcement agencies to work hand-in-hand with the communities they protect and serve, he said, and community policing provides citizens an opportunity to interact with law enforcement officers and take a proactive approach to making neighborhoods safer.
Whitehurst is the IACPRO regional vice president and the conference chairperson.
``We try to get back to basics with community policing,'' Whitehurst said. ``This conference offers us a unique opportunity to do just that.''
Whitehurst said he hopes that the conference also will promote a sharing of ideas and encourage a spirit of community teamwork.
He added, ``Education is the key to everything and this is a two-way street between law enforcement and citizens.''
For more information on the IACPRO conference or to learn how to help community policing in Portsmouth, contact Detective Whitehurst at 558-2824. by CNB