POLICE BACK AT COLLEGE HILL COURTS

City police officers once again will be based in College Hill Courts to
protect federal grant money aimed at ending crime, drugs and gangs,
officials said this week.

"The program makes so much sense," said Mayor Bob Corker. "It's a great
partnership opportunity for our Police Department with the Westside
organization. It was just the right thing to do."

In January, the Chattanooga Police Department removed pairs of full-time
officers from each of the city's five large public housing complexes
because of an officer shortage triggered by a wave of year-end retirements.

Now College Hill Courts, alone among the complexes, is getting its officers
back.

Removal of the officers had threatened the Westside Community Development
Corp.'s $225,000-per-year federal "weed-and-seed" grant program, said
Daphne Sloan, president and CEO of the corporation.

Operation Weed and Seed is a U.S. Justice Department enforcement and
community development program that targets high-crime neighborhoods across
the country.

At College Hill Courts, the officers had helped with after-school youth
activities, black male mentoring, day-care lessons, computer labs and
after-school homework programs, Ms. Sloan said.

But federal rules demand that two full-time local police officers work at
the site in return for the funds, Ms. Sloan said.

In May, Westside CDC board members asked Chief Jimmie Dodson and Mayor
Corker to reconsider the move, Ms. Sloan said.

Mayor Corker signed a letter May 31, pledging to bring the officers back,
she said.

New officers will be at College Hill Courts by early September, said Deputy
Chief Charles Cooke.

City officers patrol the complexes, and the housing authority hired private
security officers.

College Hill Courts residents said weed-and-seed works.

"The kids crowd around when they talk about drugs and safety," said
Catherine Campbell, an eight-year College Hill Courts resident and mother
of a 3-year-old. "The kids are not afraid to talk to them."

Stanley Garth, 12, and his friend Andreus Anderson, 11, agreed.

"They talk to us about shootings, and tell us when we hear somebody say
they're going to pull out a gun, to go and tell an adult," Mr. Garth said.

Some residents said police coverage has been better recently.

"It seems like they're patrolling more the last six months," said Mose
Vinson, a five-year visitor to the complex.

Still, more officers are needed, he added.