Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2000
Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Address: P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9136
Feedback: http://www.caller.com/commcentral/email_ed.htm
Website: http://www.caller.com/
Author: Venessa Santos-Garza

POLICE, VOLUNTEERS FIX RAVAGED DRUG HOUSE

Dealers And Prostitutes Took It Over, But Officers, Businesses, 
Others Took It Back

Lillian McManus had her house fixed up by volunteers and police 
officers, including Sgt. David Morris and Sgt. R. McNorton. The 
house, in the 900 block of Oak Park Avenue, had been deemed 
uninhabitable after being taken over by drug dealers and prostitutes 
while McManus was hospitalized.

More than 50 businesses contributed.

Lillian McManus said her heart doesn't work so well since she 
underwent surgery a year ago.

But on Monday, police officers, volunteers and businesses were able 
to give McManus a piece of theirs by giving her back her home.

When McManus was hospitalized for an extended stay in November 1999, 
drug dealers, drug users and prostitutes took over her vacant home in 
the 900 block of Oak Park Avenue, police said. The home was 
ransacked, furniture destroyed and garbage strewn everywhere.

Six months ago, officers in the Directed Patrol Program, funded by 
the Crime Control and Prevention District, decided to save the home. 
Police helped McManus evict her grandson, who police said invited 
many of the people into the home. Then they organized volunteers to 
clean and repair the house, which had been deemed uninhabitable.

Police serve food to neighbors, helpers and donors who refurbished 
Lillian McManusí home. People stood in line to offer help with the 
project, said Corpus Christi Police Sgt. David Morris.

On Monday, McManus began moving back into the refurbished home.

"I cannot believe all the volunteers that helped with this," said 
McManus. "Bless them all. They are all in my prayers."

The Directed Patrol Program is made up of eight police officers who 
target trouble areas where traditional policing has failed. The goal 
of the unit is to work with citizens in the community to identify and 
fix the community's problems.

"Through community policing we can approach problems in a proactive 
manor," said Corpus Christi Police Chief Pete Alvarez. "We can really 
get to the root of the problem."

McManus' home was a first for the unit, getting the program off to a 
good start, police said.

"We got a really good response from the community," said Cmdr. Bryan 
Smith of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Smith oversees the 
crime control district. He said at least 50 businesses donated labor 
or materials to get the home repaired.

Patsy Benchoff of Valero Refining said she had to bring workers air 
masks because the condition of the house was unbearable.

"There was trash everywhere," Benchoff said. "The guys had to come 
outside every 15 minutes just to breathe."

Neighbors said they remember seeing crews haul out dumpster-loads of 
debris. The neighbors were happy to see the trash go. Others recall 
prostitutes and drug dealers wandering the streets at night. Roland 
Galvan, a parent and coach who lives in the area, said he is happy 
for the improvements to the home and the neighborhood.

"I feel a lot better now that they are gone," Galvan said. "It was 
hard to try and explain to my daughter what (the prostitutes and 
dealers) were doing out there."

Martha Ramirez said her father, who has lived in the area for 50 
years, came close to moving away before police started repairing the 
home.

"This is a nice neighborhood," Ramirez said. "I am glad to see it is 
going to stay nice."

Sgt. David Morris, who coordinated the effort, said the project gave 
him a new perspective on the community.

"This job can make you lose faith in people but there were so many 
that stood in line to ask me what I needed," Morris said. "It really 
changed my whole outlook on the community."

McManus said Sgt. Morris and his fellow officers really changed her 
outlook on the police department.

"(Morris) was really a friend through all of this," she said. "When I 
came in here the first time I almost fainted. I almost did not want 
to come back. But (police) really took an interest."

Staff writer Venessa Santos-Garza can be reached at 886-3752 or by 
e-mail at  ---
MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer