STREET MARCH TARGETS DRUG SALES

TAMPA - Lantana Drive and 109th Avenue East isn't Pete Johnson's
neighborhood anymore, but he didn't let that stop him from fighting
for it Saturday.

Johnson and about 25 others gathered at the Holy Temple Church, 1215
E. 109th Ave., to wage war on drugs in the area. The North Tampa
Community Crime Watch and Civic Association sponsored a 6:30 p.m.
march against drugs.

"These are good people and hard workers who want to save their
neighborhood," said Johnson, 52. "These are my friends, my old
neighbors, people I spend time with. I still support them."

Johnson said he used to live down the street from the church, but he
moved to Temple Terrace a couple of months ago to live with his
parents to help care for them. But he hasn't forgotten the area.

"I love this neighborhood, and I love these neighbors," he
said.

David West, president of the crime watch group, said members meet
monthly and target different neighborhoods in need of attention.

"Wherever we see action going on, we pick it and hit it," West
said.

"It puts people out of business while we're out here. We like to let
them know we know it's happening and that we do care."

Officers from the Tampa Police Department were on hand for the
march.

"We like to say the police are out here protecting the drug dealers
from us," West said.

Maj. Jane Castor, who has been with the department for 20 years, has
been involved with the monthly marches for more than a year. She said
the focus of the campaign is to fight drug trafficking and
prostitution.

"These are important issues for every community to focus on," Castor
said. "This is a tangible statement that the community and police are
making to criminals in the neighborhood."

Diane Groff, 73, and her daughter, Joy Burkey, 49, stood in a driveway
on Holland Street to watch the march pass by. Both said they support
the idea of campaigning against drugs in the area.

"I love it. They cleaned up drugs on the corner where dealers would
gather," said Groff, who has lived in her house for more than 50 years.

Burkey, who was born and raised in the house, said police were able to
clean up duplexes just across the street.

"All the neighbors welcome this," Burkey said. "It will do nothing
but raise property values and clean up the area."

And that's what West is banking on with his antidrug campaign and
marches.

"We're fed up with it," West said. "If it's going to get cleaned
up, we're going to have to do it."