ROUNDTABLE FORUM SEEKS TO RID CITY OF CRIME, DRUGS

HUNTINGTON -- The Rev. Paul Willis knows that eradicating drugs and
violence from the city of Huntington is a monumental task.

But if it's going to happen, neighborhoods and churches can no longer look
the other way or rely on law enforcement alone, he said.

"If we truly are concerned about the welfare of this city, we as citizens
have to take responsibility," Willis said. "If you don't want to be part of
the solution, then you are part of the problem."

Willis is coordinating a roundtable discussion and luncheon from 1 to 4:30
p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, 801 6th Ave., to address drug and
violence issues.

The discussion, which carries the theme "What would Dr. King do about
violence and drugs in our community," is part of the 11th Annual Martin
Luther King Jr. Symposium, sponsored by Marshall University's office of
Multicultural Affairs.

"This is not intended to be a gripe session," said Willis, pastor of First
Baptist. "I want it to be a sharing of information and ideas."

If King were alive today, he would encourage church leaders to take a
leadership role in combating drugs and crime, Willis said.

The pastor has made several attempts in the past to get churches involved,
especially in Fairfield West. The neighborhood just south of downtown has
become the epicenter of drug activity in the city in recent years.

Few churches have responded to the call to action, and Willis said it's
because of a fear of retaliation from drug dealers.

"If we continue with this reluctance to do something, it will escalate to
the point where we'll be afraid to leave our homes," Willis said.

In addition to law enforcement officers, city officials and church leaders,
Willis has invited representatives from Huntington's 13 neighborhood
organizations to participate in the discussion. While the drug problem may
be more visible in Fairfield West than in other neighborhoods, it is not
restricted to one area, he said.

"I don't want the discussion to earmark just one community," Willis said.
"What if Fairfield West is alive and well six months from now, but the drug
problem moves to the West End or Guyandotte? What would we have accomplished?"

Lt. Mike Davis of the Huntington Police Department's administrative bureau
said he hopes the discussion is a catalyst for developing stronger
relationships between law enforcement and residents.

"I think it can be a great step in taking back our neighborhoods," Davis
said. "In several areas of the city, we have problems with drugs. But in a
lot of situations, people sit back and expect the police department to do
all of the work.

"With the reduction in manpower felt by police departments all over the
country, it takes entire communities these days to fight drugs and crime."

Quelling fear in the community is just as important as attacking the drug
problem itself, and the HPD has taken some steps to achieve that, Davis said.

At the urging of the Fairfield West Improvement Council's subcommittee on
crime and safety, the department created a most wanted list eight months
ago. Ten of the 15 people to appear on the list have been arrested.

The department also established an anonymous hotline for people to call to
report crimes or drug activity, Davis said. That number is (304) 696-4444.