THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 1996              TAG: 9606120342
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT AND ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITERS 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   58 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** A MetroNews story Wednesday incorrectly reported that, following a record year for homicides in 1995, violent crimes were increasing in Portsmouth. Violent crime in the city is decreasing. Correction published Saturday, June 15, 1996 on page A2 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** PORTSMOUTH: INITIATIVES DISCUSSED TO KEEP CRIME RATE FALLING

The police chief and commonwealth's attorney told City Council the city's crime rate has dropped this year, but they added that their job is not done.

Chief Dennis Mook said he is meeting with officers and supervisors to brainstorm initiatives to keep the city's crime rate falling. Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock said that he's working with his office to cut the time it takes to bring a case to trial.

Bullock also is working with the city to convince the state to pass legislation to create a state fund for witness protection.

This is all part of an intensive effort the city is taking to tackle crime following a record year for homicides in 1995, with 37. Other violent crimes also are on the increase. In addition, prosecution has frequently been plagued by witness intimidation.

The violence led to the creation last year of a federal task force to target crime in Portsmouth.

As the crime rates rose, residents and council members began asking what could be done. The police department held a crime summit and got ideas from the community.

The council had already begun funding more positions for the police department, allowing the chief to assign more officers to late night duty and to dedicate officers to solving homicides.

Prior to that, detectives had to work on a variety of violent crimes including aggravated assault and robbery.

Mook said the changes have made a difference. So far this year police have solved nearly 73 percent of the homicides; in 1994 they solved about 45 percent.

Bullock said higher bonds and the denial of bonds by judges are keeping more of the accused killers behind bars after their crime, which helps cut down on witness intimidation. So far this year, nine of 12 homicide suspects remain in jail awaiting trial. Bullock said some of the accused are held with no bonds or $1 million bonds.

Mook said more community involvement, the council's support and more manpower has helped to reduce the crime rate by more than 9 percent in the first five months of this year.

He said he hopes the trend will continue. ``One of the biggest difference in the last 12 months is that citizens have been coming out in record numbers,'' Mook said.

KEYWORDS: CRIME RATE PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL by CNB