POLICE BUSY WITH 2ND OFFICE

Resident Vernice Law Donated The Building

Police at the new office on Lafayette Boulevard hope to curb crime and drug
activities in the area.

Already, citizens are using the Roanoke City Police Department's Northwest
Office.

Sgt. James Fazio, whose office is located in the light-green building at
the corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Florida Avenue, said people have been
coming in and telling him their concerns.

And the office has only been open about a month.

"This is community policing at its best," Fazio said during a dedication
ceremony at the new office Wednesday.

Last week, police dedicated another new satellite office on the 1500 block
of Williamson Road . Police Chief Atlas "Joe" Gaskins has called the new
offices a way to build relationships with citizens across the city.

While the space for the Williamson Road office was donated by a local
business owner, the Lafayette office was donated by area resident Vernice
Law. The building was the doctor's office of her late husband, Maynard Law.
Law is leasing the building to the police department for $1 a year.

"There's been strife, tension, between this community and the city of
Roanoke," said Law's son Michael, who grew up in Roanoke and traveled from
Charlotte for the dedication ceremony. "We thought this would serve as a
catalyst."

"It's our desire that this be a part of the neighborhood as long as it's
needed," Vernice Law added.

Residents said they hope the presence of the Northwest Office will further
help efforts to rid the neighborhood of crime and drugs. Police have been
working with residents in the area since last year and say their stepped-up
enforcement has made a difference.

Officers hope residents will feel free to come into the office and talk
with them. On weekdays, during the day, the office will be staffed by
Fazio, who supervises the Community Oriented Policing Effort unit. But
other COPE officers, as well as patrol and K-9 officers, will also be
stopping by at all hours.

Wednesday, dozens of residents toured the little building. One man went
from person to person introducing himself, thanking the officers for the
service they're providing in the neighborhood.

"I'll be back," he promised.