THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NAOMI AOKI, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 93 lines
Surrounded by schoolchilden and clad in their new black uniforms with knit caps, members of the Park Place Citizen's Patrol prepared to march through their neighborhood Monday morning.
They lined up behind Lake Taylor High School's marching band. Six patrol members climbed onto new bicycles donated by the city. A few others got into the white station wagon they use to patrol their streets. The rest, side by side with several city police officers, were on foot.
``We are here to show the children that there is a better way of life,'' Sahib Salaam, coordinator of the neighborhood's block security effort, told the crowd gathered in front of James Monroe Elementary School.
Then he told the band to ``hit it.''
With drums beating, trumpets blaring and the sun shining brightly, the crowd set off down 29th Street toward Colley Avenue. A group of about 200 second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from Monroe took up the rear.
The year-old patrol has not only 30 new uniforms, but also six bicycles and 15 CB radios, all courtesy of a $5,000 grant from the Beazley Foundation and donations from the city, Yellow Cab and the Park Place Landlords' Association. The Beazley Foundation is a Portsmouth-based philanthropic group.
Monday's march reminded the neighborhood's children, residents and its criminals that people are watching.
``That's why we're here,'' said Teresa Jones, a Park Place resident who lives on 27th Street. ``It lets us know that we are not in this by ourselves. The uniform helps because then the children know when they see them that they have security nearby. The radios give them instant access to police.''
``They need security all around this area,'' added Jones, whose 13-year-old niece was almost abducted by a stranger in Park Place last week. ``This is an everyday thing that we have to do.''
The patrols make the rounds in groups of two nearly every day, from early morning until about 2 a.m.
On Monday, patrol members - all volunteers - marched down Colley Avenue, waving at their neighbors and chatting with the officers marching with them. They turned onto 35th Street, bellowing warnings through loudspeakers about the evils of cocaine.
They wore their new black boots and pants, black shirts with patches on each shoulder and black knit caps bearing the same patch. The patch, designed by Monroe students, reads ``Park Place Citizen's Patrol: Eyes Watching You.'' It pictures an eagle - because of the sharpness of the eagle's vision - an eye to represent the eyes of the community, and homes to represent the neighborhood.
Many residents stopped to watch the march. Some joined in. Others said they believe the uniforms will serve as a warning to criminals in Park Place.
``It will show them that the patrol has got a little more to work with now, that there is somebody out there, and it will say `We see you,' '' said Veretta Tucker, a Wards Corner resident who grew up in Park Place and whose father still lives there.
Sally Lang and William Jennette, both longtime residents of Park Place, were also happy to see the patrol, the children and the residents marching down 35th Street.
``I think they are doing a good job,'' Lang said. ``We've seen a whole lot of difference since the patrol started. I don't hear shooting behind my house anymore. That's the most important difference.''
And with the uniforms, ``Now we'll know who they are and what's represented,'' Lang said.
Clyde Turner, who has owned and rented property in Park Place for 30 years, waved at the patrol members as they walked by one of his apartment buildings. Turner is a member of the Landlords' Association that helped buy radios for the patrol.
``There is very little loitering now,'' Turner said. ``There is also very little drinking in the street anymore, and we are able to rent a lot easier.``
For Barbara Higgins, Monroe Elementary's principal, the 45-minute march was also a chance to teach.
``I think it's important that adults communicate our expecations that children will grow up and be responsible,'' Higgins said. ``I want them to understand that what they do matters, that when they make decisions they are consequences for a lot of people around them.'' ILLUSTRATION: PARK PLACE NEIGHBORS WATCH OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER
[Color Photo]
TAMARA VONINSKI
The Virginian-Pilot
Taqyyah A. Wakkil led chants about keeping the streets safe during
Monday's march of the Park Place Citizen's Patrol.
TAMARA VONINSKI
The Virginian-Pilot
A band, schoolchildren and neighbors watched and joined Monday's
celebratory march of the Park Place Citizen's Patrol.
VP GRAPHIC
CRIME COMPARISON
SOURCE: Virginian-Pilot computer analysis of police incident
reports.
KEYWORDS: CRIME STATISTICS PARK PLACE COMPUTER ASSISTED
REPORTING by CNB