DATE: Sunday, August 10, 1997               TAG: 9708080244

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Cover Story 

SOURCE: BY STEPHEN KIEHL, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   85 lines

LOOKING DOWN ON CRIME NATIONAL NIGHT OUT DRAWS A CROWD 260 PEOPLE, RIDE IN 130-CAR MOTORCADE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AGAINST CITY'S CRIME.

PORTSMOUTH RESIDENTS made the statement as explicitly as they could Tuesday night: ``We will not tolerate crime in our neighborhoods and we will not be intimidated.''

The city observed National Night Out with two motorcades that winded their way through downtown and the neighborhoods, concluding with an indoor block party at Tower Mall.

Some 260 people in 130 cars took part in the motorcades and hundreds more waved from the sidewalks and turned on their porch lights from 6 to 9 p.m. in a show of solidarity against those who violate the peace with crime.

``As you (drive by and) see all the children and people waving in areas where they may not feel safe coming out at night - to know that there are that many people on the same side as you, it gives you a good feeling,'' said Hollis Rich, who was in one of the motorcades and is president of the Cradock Neighborhood Watch Program. ``It sends the message that people in the neighborhood aren't going to give up their community.''

National Night Out, now in its 14th year, is a nationwide crime prevention rally. Portsmouth has participated since the program began and last year was named a ``National Award Winner,'' ranking 10th in its population category for participation.

Betty Wright, a crime prevention specialist with the Portsmouth Police Crime Prevention Unit, coordinated National Night Out here and said her goal is to get more people involved every year.

But even more important than the numbers is ``neighborhood camaraderie, togetherness. Citizens and government working together, hand in hand - that's what I love,'' she said.

``The motorcade demonstrates that we are together, showing unity. We are letting the criminal element know we are tired of crime.''

One of the motorcades began at the NDU-OSU building on George Washington Highway and the other at the Cavalier Manor Center, 404 Viking St. The streams of civilian, sheriff's deputy and police cars, Shriner and police motorcycles, and firetrucks started on their trip around 5:30 with sirens blaring, horns honking and lights on. They converged at Tower Mall, in the 4000 block of Victory Blvd., at 6:30.

The activities at Tower Mall included a fire safety exhibit and a train exhibit by members of the Tidewater Division of the National Model Railroad Association.

Interim police chief John Tucker said National Night Out and neighborhood watch programs ``bring awareness, let criminals know how many people are out there who are willing to watch. It sends a signal to them.''

Wright said that since the crime summit last year, neighborhood watches have seen an increase in participation.

``People are becoming more aware of crime and they want to do more about it,'' she said.

Reginald Allen, president of the Brighton/Prentice Park Civic League and coordinator of his neighborhood patrol, said he thinks crime prevention efforts are working because the city's crime rate is going down.

Indeed, the most serious crimes, classified as Part I offenses, have been dropping steadily this decade. The crime rate is down 4 percent for the first six months of this year and was down a combined 7.8 percent in the two previous years. Homicides, 37 in 1995, were down to 23 in 1996. And as of Aug. 6, there have been 15 murders in the city this year.

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Massie participated in National Night Out as a way to thank citizens who have been coming forward and helping his office prosecute criminals - a healthy trend that's increasing, he said.

``We can't be successful in what we do unless the citizens are with us,'' Massie said. ``For successful prosecution, we need citizen cooperation.''

Lenora Alvin, a member of the planning committee for National Night Out, hsa made fighting crime one of her top priorities. She is a member of the Cavalier Manor Civic League and is also on the Community-Police Relations Committee. She meets twice a week with people from her neighborhood to discuss recent crimes and ways to prevent future crime.

She said, ``I want to do everything I can to get rid of crime.''

Tuesday night she found out she was not alone. MEMO: Currents correspondent Carol O'Keefe contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover by JIM WALKER

National Night Out parade

Staff photos/GARY C. KNAPP

Tiffany Grant, left, Tierra Worthy and Kevin Grant examine a train

display at Tower Mall after the police officers like M.W. Hayes,

below, and citizens joined forces in a very public statement against

crime.

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