THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 28, 1996 TAG: 9610280057
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NAOMI AOKI, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 57 lines
For years, John Roger has been going to the police station, perusing reports, and compiling and publishing information about crimes in his neighborhood in a quarterly newsletter.
For years, Roger has hoped the city would automate the process and make it easier for him and other residents to find out about crimes in their communities.
Tuesday night, he'll be at a workshop watching his wish become a reality.
``Getting the statistics is just one piece of the effort,'' said Roger, who is president of the Bayview Civic League. ``If people are informed and willing to get involved a little bit, then it can clean some of the trash out of a neighborhood.''
The program will allow civic groups to get crime information for their neighborhoods - not planning districts or census tracts. Civic groups will define their own neighborhood boundaries for police. Then, police will run the customized neighborhood reports monthly. The service is free.
``Usually, when we report crime, it's by census areas or planning districts,'' Roger said. ``We happen to be part of four planning districts. The big benefit here is that it is by your neighborhood as your civic league recognizes it.''
At Tuesday's workshop, people will find out how to get the report and how to use the information to fight crime. Speakers will include police officers, city officials and civic league representatives.
The monthly reports will include the date and time of the crime, the type of crime and the street and block number where it happened. All the information is public. More than 60 types of crime - including all violent crimes, property crimes and drug offenses - will be part of the monthly reports. Information about certain crimes, such as suicide, will not be included.
Roger plans to hand out copies of Bayview's newsletter at the workshop as an example of how to put the statistics to good use.
``A lot of it is common sense,'' he said. ``If you know there are burglaries around the corner, you are going to be more careful. The statistics are going to make you more aware, and hopefully you are going to watch out for things and report them.''
Norfolk police Capt. Les Barnard echoes Roger's sentiment:
``I think that knowledge is power, and folks that are knowledgeable about their surroundings are more empowered to change their surroundings.''
Advocates of the program say people can make better decisions about their safety if they know what is going on. They also say the program can help residents and police join forces to fight crime.
``It's part of the philosophy of community policing,'' Barnard said. ``If the community is better informed, they can assist us and are in a better position to assist themselves.'' ILLUSTRATION: TO ATTEND
The workshop will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the
Lafayette/Winona Middle School auditorium. by CNB