THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 14, 1996 TAG: 9610140033
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CINDY CLAYTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 63 lines
Former Smithfield police chief Claiborne A. Havens died Saturday morning in a hospital in Fayetteville, N.C. He was 61.
Family members said Havens was in Fayetteville on business when he suffered stomach pains and sought medical attention. The cause of death was uncertain Sunday night. The family is awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Havens battled stomach problems, including ulcers, for years. Daughter Wanda Havens said that most recently, he had received pain medication for knee problems and had had some pain in his arms.
The current police chief, Mark A. Marshall, said Sunday: ``I guess everybody's still in shock about his death. I had just seen him earlier this week, and he didn't indicate any health problems.''
Marshall described Havens as a passionate, caring man who was quick to come to the aid of others. ``He was very community-oriented,'' he said.
Marshall, who was hired by Havens in 1986, took over as chief after Havens retired in 1992.
Havens, whose career in law enforcement spanned more than 30 years, spent 15 years as Smithfield's police chief. He was forced to retire in 1992 for health reasons and amid accusations that he had verbally abused a police officer and mishandled child-abuse allegations at a local day-care home.
Havens was accused of coercing David Crocker into confessing to 16 counts of sexually molesting children. The case also involved Crocker's father, Wallace R. Crocker Sr.
In December 1991, after an accident that October, Havens was found guilty of improper driving and fined $100, having pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of reckless driving.
Havens was driving his pickup truck on Virginia Route 10 when he was involved in an accident, he said at the time, caused by his efforts to avoid hitting an animal.
No one was seriously injured in the accident, but it did provoke allegations that alcohol was involved and that, before police arrived, Havens asked employees of his lawn service company to remove beer cans and lawn equipment from the truck.
In 1987, Havens was cleared of wrongdoing by the Virginia State Police after an investigation into his handling and use of proceeds from a fund-raiser.
Upon retirement, Havens became a security consultant for Smithfield Packing.
A native of Brunswick County, he attended Central Police Training School in Richmond and several other schools in other states.
Before taking over in Smithfield, Havens was a supervisor and captain of the criminal investigation division of the Prince George County Police Department.
He received numerous honors and citations during his career, including several Policeman of the Year awards. He was a Mason, a member of the Kiwanis Club, chairman of the Salvation Army's Isle of Wight Service Unit, a member of the Smithfield Chamber of Commerce and a former deacon at Trinity Methodist Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Wanda, of Prince George County; a son, Thomas Havens of Hopewell; two sisters, Louise Foster of Lawrenceville and Elsie Howerton of Dinwiddie County; a brother, William R. Havens of Hopewell; and three grandchildren.
No funeral arrangements have been made.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB