NEW TACTIC IN OLD 'WAR'

As a major in the Army reserves, Kelvin Bledsoe knows it takes more than
the usual drill to drive out drug dealers. The Black on Black Crime
Prevention Task Force coordinator for the Urban League of Palm Beach County
correctly is building the right coalition to bring residents some relief
from such predators.

The league's Sept. 13 announcement of the task-force project drew police
and city officials from West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach, as well as
Sheriff Ed Bieluch and members of State Attorney Barry Krischer's staff.
They will provide support in targeting the corners of Seventh Street and
Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach and 28th Street and Avenue S in Riviera
Beach.

In addition, another event will take place next month in Gaines Park,
across the street from the league's West Palm Beach headquarters. The task
force will host a crime prevention family sports day, and is trying to
involve all the players. Some of the groups that can help this effort
include the Police Athletic League, the Partnership for a Drug Free
Community and the Haitian Community Center, as well as the parks
departments from the two cities and the county health department. More
significant than the sports activities, free food and prizes for kids will
be the booths offering information on everything from education to crime
prevention.

The two intersections "are the center point for crime in" Palm Beach County
said Darren Shull, the state attorney's chief prosecutor for auto theft
crimes and a key task-force member. "We realize people are scared of
retribution. But we know there are people who are very vocal about getting
drug dealers off their streets. Law enforcement has to go in first and get
a foothold and stop these open-air drug markets, and hopefully the
residents will be the eyes and ears for law enforcement."

At the same time, as Mr. Bledsoe said, "if residents are going to be brave
enough to come out and help the community to help the police, we obviously
have to give them the help and information they need to be effective. We
want to have an impact instead of hit and miss. A lot of times, people come
and do one thing, and you never hear from them again. We're trying to make
it sustained."

His association with the National Guard, which provides a very effective
anti-drug community coalition-building course, didn't hurt. Mr. Bledsoe
served in Somalia and Kuwait and is on call after the bombings of Sept. 11.
"This great country gives us every opportunity," he said. Here's one to
take advantage of.