DATE: Thursday, June 19, 1997               TAG: 9706180247

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 17   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

WOMEN IN OCEAN AIR TRYING TO ``TAKE BACK NEIGHBORHOOD''

Since moving into the Ocean Air Apartments more than a year ago, Vicki L. Krauter and her neighbor, Angela R. O'Hearn, say they have been scared.

``We'd sit on our back porch playing cards and hear gunshots,'' said Krauter, 23, a Navy wife and mother of three. ``And you can see drug-dealing and people with guns day and night.''

But being scared has not prevented Krauter and O'Hearn from taking action. Last winter, they helped make the neighborhood part of Norfolk's PACE program, and in April, were instrumental in the formation of the Ocean Air Civic League.

On Saturday, they will supervise ``Take Back The Community Day,'' a program they've created to help fight crime.

``Last year was bad,'' said O'Hearn, 24, a mother of two from a previous marriage and soon to be a Navy wife. ``We're going to let everyone know that we're not going to tolerate this anymore.''

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the baseball field on the grounds of the apartment complex and will feature exhibits by the Norfolk Police Department, the Fire and Paramedical Department, the Health Department, the Red Cross, and the YMCA.

``The idea is to bring the residents of the community together to communicate with the police and city about fighting crime and improving the neighborhood,'' Krauter said.

Ocean Air Apartments, a 450-unit complex, is the core of the community, which is located between Farrell Street to the south, Warwick Avenue to the north, Chesapeake Boulevard to the east and Old Ocean View Road to the west.

Police Officer Jim Bergeron, with PACE Community Policing in Norfolk, has been patrolling and working with the neighborhood since last November.

``We're assisting them in addressing the problems out there,'' Bergeron said. ``Narcotics, vice, litter and zoning are some of the biggest problems. Krauter and O'Hearn have been the backbone of the community effort.''

The pair began their anti-crime campaign last winter after attending the police department's Citizens Academy, where they learned about the law and how police and communities can work together. They started organizing PACE meetings at the Police Community Station next to apartments' office, and also began night walks to check the neighborhood.

Ocean Air Apartments manager Brian B. Quigley praises the women's initiative.

``A lot of times, people will just try to get out of their lease if there is a problem,'' explained Quigley. ``But these two, despite the danger, - and people have fired guns off in front of their apartments - have encouraged people to come together to fight crime, helped form the groups, and are sponsoring this Community Day. They have a lot of courage.''

Both women say they have been intimidated.

``We've had people rip up our flyers and point and glare at us,'' Krauter said.

One evening, the pair watched a drug deal and called the police.

``The cops pulled the guys out of the apartment, but they didn't take them to jail,'' O'Hearn said. ``Later that night, they're were gunshots outside of our apartment.''

At one point last winter, the two women almost gave up.

``In beginning we were a bit discouraged,'' Krauter said. ``It took us time. Some of our first meetings and walks only had four people. But now there are around 20 or 30 people that come out.''

Jessica J. Guin is one of those people that have come to the meetings and walks.

``The girls have been very courageous and have stuck through a lot,'' said Guin, a 21-year-old mother of one. ``The neighborhood needs picking up for the kids, and they've helped get that started.''

Since the campaign began, some of those involved feel there already have been positive results.

``I can a tell a difference in the amount of vandalism,'' Quigley said.

Officer Bergeron noted that there ``is better communication between the neighborhood and the police, and that the residents are realizing the police and the city do care.''

Krauter and O'Hearn are hoping the Take Back The Community day will kick things off.

``Our biggest priority is to get people involved,'' O'Hearn said. ``We want them to know they can make a stand. Some residents aren't into it, but if the ones that are stick together, we can make this place safer for the children.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SCOTT McCASKEY

Angela R. O'Hearn, left, and Vicki L. Krauter, co-founders of the

Ocean Air Civic League, will supervise ``Take Back The Community

Day,'' a program they've created to help fight crime.

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