ANTI-CRACK PUSH PROVES VITAL FOR DOWNTOWN

Waukesha -- Continued efforts to revitalize downtown have come with no
small assist from police, who are working to eradicate crack cocaine from
the streets.

With more than 60 arrests for delivery of crack cocaine in the past two
years, law enforcement officials say that crack is not flowing into the
community in epidemic proportions. Nonetheless, it has been prevalent
enough to be considered a problem that could discourage downtown
redevelopment if not kept in check.

"Is it a widespread problem that indicates that area is a haven for drug
dealers or an extremely dangerous area? No," said Waukesha County District
Attorney Paul Bucher. "But it produces an inordinate amount of charges out
of one location."

Officers make many of their arrests in the area near Madison and St. Paul
streets. The transient population there, the nearby taverns and easy access
to I-94 from downtown all contribute to the drug activity, officials said.

"It's less today than it was . . . a year ago, when most people told us
they saw shady characters" in the downtown area, said Waukesha Police Sgt.
Jeff Fulwiler, who is the city's liaison to the Waukesha County Metro Drug
Enforcement Unit. "There are still people out that try to do their
operations in our city, and that's the thing we continue to work on."

The continued crackdown comes at a time when city leaders have made great
strides in revitalizing the downtown. New stores have emerged in the
central district, and beautification efforts in the Fox River corridor
include the Riverwalk and other improvements.

Recently, $1 million in federal money was pledged for a new downtown
transit station on Mary St., which city officials hope will attract other
development.

Susan Buchanan, executive director of the Waukesha Business Improvement
District, said a recent increase in development downtown suggests that
residents must not have serious concerns about the safety of the area.

In the past year, Buchanan said, nearly 100 new apartment units have been
added to the downtown area. Those new residents will help discourage crime
by making downtown a more lively place, particularly during the evening.

"Between the businesses and residential areas growing down here, there's
just not going to be an atmosphere conducive to underhanded crime,"
Buchanan said. "It's like having eyes and ears on the streets."

The perception of crime will be reduced further if the proposed downtown
police substation becomes a reality, she said. The Police Department has
not settled on a location for the substation, but the business district is
offering space in its office at 251 W. Broadway.

Mayor Carol Lombardi said the problems with drugs in Waukesha demonstrate
the need for an emphasis on community policing. In May, the Common Council
gave Police Chief Leslie Sharrock permission to hire four additional
officers in 1999 and two more in 2000 for the community policing program.

"I'm satisfied with the enforcement that's been done, and we have to
recognize that a growing community is going to have this kind of problem,"
Lombardi said.

Other communities in the county have also been touched by the drug problem
as well, said Sheriff's Capt. Terry Martorano, head of county's drug unit.

"Over the past couple of years that I've been involved with this, crack
cocaine has been the leading drug out here in Waukesha County," he said.
"It's prevalent in any part of Waukesha County. We run into crack cocaine
80% of the time we make arrests."

And the attraction of suburban sales has brought dealers in from Milwaukee,
Chicago and Racine to garner a higher price for their product. Martorano
said a gram of crack cocaine can sell for between $100 and $125 in Waukesha
County, nearly twice the going rate in Milwaukee.

"We're working with everybody in the downtown area to curtail this
problem," he said. "Who wants to bring a business into a community that's
drug-laden or move into an area with drug problems? Because there are so
many people working together, that's the only way to do it to make a
difference."

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)