THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030726
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Their job is usually both frustrating and grim. Very grim. But for a change of pace, local police public information officers chose to ease up.
The result can be seen in the latest edition of ``Crime Line Chronicles,'' Hampton Roads' version of ``America's Most Wanted,'' which normally just features profiles of suspects wanted for crimes ranging from bank robberies to murder.
But, in a special edition, Spectrum Puppet Productions Inc., based in Virginia Beach, was brought in to help public information officers from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Hampton.
Spectrum Puppets is known throughout the community for programs on child abuse and other public-safety problems. The troupe recently presented a program at the Crime Stoppers International convention held in Virginia Beach in September. That helped lead to the Crime Line stint.
``These are really terrific guys and their work is difficult,'' Regina Marscheider, the troupe's director, said about police officers. ``This lightened things up a little bit.''
Marscheider, who performs all of the characters, said an aim of using nearly human-size foam puppets was to grab viewers' attention.
``I liked the idea of a police officer working with the puppets,'' said Marscheider, who has worked with Spectrum for about 15 years in Virginia Beach. ``It bridges the gap, makes the police more accessible.''
``Crime Line Chronicles'' pays rewards of up to $1,000 to individuals who provide information about crimes in participating cities and counties. Callers do not have to testify or reveal their names. They are paid only if information leads to an arrest.
Crime Line airs about 25 times a week on local and city-access channels. Each episode runs for two weeks. This special edition ends Sunday evening.
The show started about 10 years ago in the form of 15-minute segments. It later was expanded to its present half-hour format.
``I've always wanted to do this with them,'' said Larry Hill, Norfolk's police spokesman and a producer of the show. ``We had a lot of fun.''
The puppets' personalities and gaudy outfits played off the normally straight-laced police officers. With such names as Don Pepperoni - the world's oldest godfather - Crystal Dish and Dottie Dawber, the puppets ad-libbed lines, teased their human counterparts and introduced segments.
``Most of the stuff happened naturally,'' Hill said. ``I just told them what it was about and let them do their own thing.''
Though this episode took a bit longer then usual to film, Hill said the puppets helped the show flow between segments.
``I thought it was unique, different,'' Hill said. ``The puppets were colorful and spontaneous. It blended well together.''
Hill said with help from callers responding to Crime Line, the 1,500th fugitive since the program started 10 years ago recently was arrested. Hill is waiting to see whether anyone will be apprehended as a result of this week's show. MEMO: Check local listings for air times. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
BETH BERGMAN/The Virginia-Pilot
A little attention-grabbing spice has been added to one special
edition of TV's ``Crime Line Chronicles,'' which focuses on crimes
in South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula.
Officer Mike Simpkins of the Suffolk Police Department introduces a
segment with the animated help of ``Crystal Dish,'' a member of the
Spectrum Puppets troupe.
Graphic
CRIME LINE TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Norfolk 664-4040
Virginia Beach 427-0000
Hampton 722-9800
Suffolk 539-1222
Chesapeake 487-1234
Newport News 245-0755
Portsmouth 488-7777
Callers also can call INFOLINE 640-5555, category 4900.
by CNB