POLICE LOOK TO HELP RATHER THAN ARREST

GASTONIA - A person who slides into the backseat of a police cruiser
usually finds the trip leads to one place: jail.

But for the community policing unit of the Gastonia Police Department this
spring, their patrol cruisers provided a helping hand to the down-and-out.

The unit targeted downtown in response to increased crime there last fall.
Merchants were concerned about break-ins, trash and vagrants hanging around
Main Avenue.

The unit intensified patrols downtown and noticed homeless people
contributed to much of the activity downtown.

Instead of arresting them for minor infractions such as public drunkenness,
the officers have tried to eliminate the root problem making these people
homeless - alcoholism.

"We looked at them and said their alcoholism is what's causing them to be
on the street," Sgt. D.D. Rhinehart said. "Most said they wanted help."

Being homeless and out of work, the nearly $400 for alcohol detox and
rehabilitation would normally be out of the question. But the city decided
to use a block grant designated for dealing with the homeless to pay for
alcohol treatment at Pathways, according to Assistant City Manager Ed Munn.

"This is dealing with more than the symptom," Munn said. "It's getting to
the cause of it."

Officers Susan Psomadakis, Amy Hawkins, Rick Caldwell and Patrick Daley
made sure the three people who entered the Pathways program made it to
doctor's appointments and other errands.

Two of the three men who completed the Pathways program remain sober and
are residents at Cornerstone Christian Center. One left Cornerstone early
and has gone back to drinking, Rhinehart said.

But they hope this small step will be part of a continuing effort to help
the downtown homeless solve their problem, rather than making an easy arrest.

"I think they have made a critical connection between the street and
recovery," said Lorraine Hill, executive director of Cornerstone. "These
guys wouldn't be here without them."

Medical confidentiality laws prevented the men from being interviewed while
they are residents at Cornerstone. Hill said both men are doing well in
their alcohol recovery.

Hill said the officers' success is linked to their ability to follow
through with the men. They made sure they had a place to stay - at the
Salvation Army Shelter - between rehab and Cornerstone. They have also made
numerous follow-up visits.

Downtown merchants said they see the homeless often since the shelter is
nearby, but it's hard to link them to crime unless someone is caught in the
act.

Joseph E. Gettys, owner of Gettys Hardware on Main Avenue, said he noticed
an increased police presence this spring, and would like it to continue.

"The police have made a very concerted effort," Gettys said. "They had a
heavy presence in the spring for a few months. I would love to see a
24-hour police presence in the downtown, but you have to be realistic. A
case could be made for it."

Now that they have the contacts with the shelters and faith-based aid
organizations, officers believe they can help more people get off the street.

"The main thing we have to do is keep it maintained," Rhinehart said.