DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706130184

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 20 QUESTIONS 

SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

JOANNE RAFFERTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SUPPORT CLERK

Joanne Rafferty, who dreams of dancing on Broadway, was practically doing plies in the halls of Suffolk Police headquarters recently when word came from Richmond: The department had passed the IBR test.

IBR - Incident Based Reporting - will be mandatory throughout the state by 1999. Suffolk Police adopted the new system Jan. 1, with help from a state grant.

But until the department became IBR certified, Rafferty had to do double duty - sending reports to the state police using the old method, the Uniform Crime Report, and the new IBR system. To become certified, the department had to send in three consecutive months of reports with at least 96 percent accuracy.

After the first three months and three nearly perfect scores - success! Now Rafferty, who has worked for Suffolk Police eight years, no longer has to do the Uniform Crime Report, although there's a back log of paper work waiting to be entered in the computer.

Rafferty's boss, Capt. Richard H. Hurd, oversees the Police Department's records management. He's been the main trouble shooter for the officers, who have had questions on how to fill out the new, more complicated forms.

Rafferty has had a number of different jobs as her family moved from place to place until they settled in rural Holland after her husband retired from the military.

What brought brought you here? My husband is retired Navy. To quote the late Police Maj. M.W. Bryant, I am one of those ``damned Yankees.'' The ones that come and don't go back.

Birthdate/hometown: July 14 - Central Islip, Long Island, New York.

Fondest childhood memory: My father's Monday night meatloaf and meeting my Mom after work on Fridays and going to the diner for supper. It was really a big treat.

Marital status/children: I married my high school sweetheart, Tom. We have three children: Kevin who is a news photographer for News Channel 3, Michele who is a graduate student of economics at ODU, and Jennifer who graduates from Johnson & Wales University in May and starts her new career as a chef at the Hilton Hotel in Charleston, S.C.

Pets: A bunny rabbit named Eugene; a basset hound named Henry; and our ``foster'' dog named ``Q.'' We call him our foster dog because he was adopted by my son, and we were to have him temporarily while Kevin got settled into his new apartment. That was three years ago.

First job/worst job: My first job was a receptionist for a security company. My worst job was a loan specialist for a finance company.

Occupation: Administrative services support clerk.

If you had a choice, what other job would you choose? A dancer on Broadway.

What's your favorite hangout? Home.

Favorite night out on the town: Seeing a Broadway show or anything with music and dancing.

Favorite food/drink: Fried sea scallops, hot tea with milk, and a banana split.

Favorite movies/TV show: The Wizard of Oz and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Last book read that I wish everyone would read: I read as an escape so most of what I read is for pleasure. I am a really big fan of Sandra Brown and Laverle Spencer. The last book I read was ``Lone Survivor.''

Ideal vacation: Any place warm on the ocean.

I can't resist: Anything coconut.

Few people know that I: I have a thing for shoes. My husband calls me Imelda.

Most embarrassing moment: When my husband was in the military, it seemed that no one had a first name. Everyone was either called by their last name or a nickname. One guy who worked for my husband had a very unflattering nickname but whenever I heard people talk about him that's the name they used. When I finally got to meet this man at a party, I shook his hand steadfastly, called him by his nickname, and told him how happy I was to finally get to meet him. Much to my embarrassment, the nickname everyone called him was not one that was used to his face. From that day on, whenever I meet any of my husband's friends that don't have ``real'' first names, I never call them by name.

If you won the lottery, what would you do/buy? My husband wants to visit Europe so I would spend the money to build a bridge to England because I hate to fly.

What is the bet advice you've been given and by whom? Never assume anything and never take anything personally. Walter Thoma, my first boss.

What achievements are you most proud of? Winning my battle with breast cancer. Of course, I would never have been able to accomplish that without the love, support, and encouragement of my family, friends, and God. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

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