THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512080218
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ALICIA MAXEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
JUST BEFORE SIGNING the final papers on the purchase of their spacious turn-of-the-century home, Carleen and Herbert Smith almost changed their minds.
That's when they found out crack dealers were operating two doors away.
``We almost backed out at that point,'' said Carleen Smith, a speech pathologist.
Instead, she and her husband, a graphic artist, dug in their heels and joined the many other Parkview residents who believe the historic district can survive and thrive again.
``I love my house. It's beautiful,'' said Carleen Smith, now president of the neighborhood's civic league.
A month before the Smiths moved in, the crack house was cleaned out. That was five and a half years ago.
The Smiths don't regret their decision despite the fact that they still live in proximity to an area of drug activity.
And their confidence in their neighborhood is now bolstered by the presence of Portsmouth Police officers, John Donahue and Sean Dunn.
As the city police department's Neighborhood Impact Officers, Donahue and Dunn will act as ``mini-chiefs'' for the community.
Their new assignment falls under the department's community policing program called NEAT (Neighborhood Enhancement and Action Teams).
And with the new program, the bygone days of beat officers is making a comeback in Portsmouth just as they are in other areas of Hampton Roads and the rest of the country.
Partnership and problem-solving are the key elements to the new program, said Capt. Alvin Segal.
``What we're talking about won't happen overnight, but in the long run you should see major changes . . . beautification, drug dealers going to jail and zero-tolerance enforcement,'' he told residents during a neighborhood meeting held in an upstairs room at Calvary Baptist Church.
The officers' area extends from Parkview and West Parkview to Shea Terrace and Sugar Hill, even some of the fringe downtown areas extending toward Interstate 264.
Law enforcement officials expect the partnership between communities and specific officers to improve the quality of life for residents and curb crime in a specific community.
In fact, Portsmouth's program was modeled after a successful police ``experiment'' in the Parkview neighborhood last year. Crime went down 27 percent in just three months.
Then the NEAT program was officially launched in August in Prentis Park and surrounding neighborhoods - Prentis Place, Lee Ward, Brighton and Southside.
Officers J.E. Lewis and B.K. Abdul-Ali were assigned to that area and have office space in the Wesley Community Center on Elm Avenue and Randolph Street.
Donahue and Dunn took up the second area in October, moving into a six-room, turn-of-the-century house at 914 Leckie St. The house was donated by Portsmouth General Hospital.
The city has been divided into nine areas and six public housing regions and the program should be implemented throughout the city within a year and a half with a total of 22 officers, according to Lt. Joseph Covey.
Although the program is in its infancy, the officers are already seen as a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
``I just see a lot of positive changes,'' said Smith.
``People are putting more energy and effort into their neighborhoods, than `every man for himself.' ''
Leckie Street resident Vince Bekiempis also sees promise in community policing.
``I think it's a great idea,'' he said. ``It gets back to the old-fashioned values where you can identify a name with a face. It's a little less bureaucratic and cold.''
The officers agree.
``It gets out of that line where the criminal justice system is our only backbone, and allows us to use many other avenues not only to reduce crime, but to improve the overall quality of life,'' said Dunn.
All officers in the program volunteer for the assignment and are screened by the department before assuming the duties.
Like many of their colleagues who live in Portsmouth and are concerned about the city, Dunn and Donahue take their new assignments seriously. The Leckie Street NEAT office has voice mail and they carry pagers so residents can get in contact with them at any time.
``It gets back to the old beat mentality,'' said Donahue. ``I think that's what the neighborhoods need.''
Donahue and Dunn have both been on the police force for 2 1/2 years.
``We had many people come to our office to just introduce themselves and others who have approached us in the streets,'' Dunn said.
Under Police Chief Dennis Mook's guidance, the NEAT teams and impact officers plan to improve the quality of life in the city and reduce crimes in communities - one neighborhood at a time.
Mook said he is tired of Portsmouth getting a ``black-eye'' because of drugs and a number of absentee landlords who rent to just about anyone. As a Portsmouth resident with children who attend public schools, Mook said he is determined to make Portsmouth a better place to live.
For years, Mook said the police department has been reactive, responding to 911 calls at every turn.
``You call, we come,'' he said. ``When 911 came in, we had everyone calling. Now we're a slave to 911.''
Community policing takes a proactive approach and will attempt to identify problems and solve them, efficiently and effectively without the financial burden of adding more officers, Mook said.
Carleen Smith definitely likes the idea of officers who have a regular presence in the community.
``The drug problem in our neighborhood is just chronic,'' she said. ``People have been able to get away with it.''
Now, she said, the officers who are ``stationed here will know the properties and spend their time casing the place out . . .
``I think what it's going to do is clean up our neighborhood.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MARK MITCHELL
Officer Brooke Donahue pours out a bottle of alcohol that was being
consumed in public in the area of King Street and Peninsula Avenue,
an area within his patrol area but not within Parkview.
Officer Sean Dunn leaves a house where, allegedly, alcohol by the
glass was illegally sold. Such a place is called a ``nip joint.''
ABOVE: Officer James E. Lewis works in the NEAT office at the Wesley
Community Center in Prentis Park. The officers use bicycles for some
patrolling.
BELOW: Officer Brooke Donahue chats with a man on King Street, which
is in Donahue's patrol area.
AT RIGHT: Officer Brian Abdul Ali and a construction worker check
out the area at Elm Avenue and Fayette Street, where a new apartment
house is being built. It used to be a hang out area, but now it's
been cleaned up.
BELOW: Officer Brooke Donahue chats with a man on King Street, which
is in Donahue's patrol area.
by CNB