THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170046
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Chief of Police William F. Corvello, who reorganized and helped restore the morale of a police force shattered by the slayings of two of its officers in 1994, will resign Oct. 1.
Corvello, 63, will stay on until fall to assist in the recruitment and selection of his successor, said City Manager Ed Maroney, who made Corvello's plans public in a news release Tuesday.
``I am truly sorry to see Chief Corvello leave,'' Maroney said in the release.
``Although his appointment last year was not intended to be long-term, it is with regret that I accept his resignation.''
Corvello, a former superintendent of the Virginia State Police, is expected to hold a news conference today.
In Corvello's letter of resignation to Maroney, he said he had completed projects that were ``mandated at the time of his appointment'' and believed that the ``remaining long-term projects would be better served by a younger police chief.''
Corvello came to Newport News in the middle of an unprecedented crisis in the Police Department.
It began in January 1994 with the death of officer Steven R. Rutherford during a botched police undercover sting investigation into a series of pizza-delivery robberies.
In May 1994, another officer, Larry D. Bland, was shot by an ex-convict that Bland had stopped for a traffic violation.
Rutherford's death prompted two detailed investigations into the pizza delivery sting. Both resulted in highly critical evaluations of the performance of Chief of Police Jay A. Carey Jr.
One of the investigations was conducted by an independent panel appointed by Gov. George F. Allen.
The investigations basically determined that the sting was poorly planned and should never have been attempted.
At a news conference on May 27, 1994, Maroney announced that the 43-year-old Carey would resign, explaining that ``negligence of duty cannot go unpunished.''
Corvello, who had resigned from the top spot with the Virginia State Police in 1992 after 37 years with the organization, was named interim chief the same day.
Corvello immediately began a department evaluation concentrating on officer safety and community policing.
The evaluation included another analysis of the deaths of Rutherford and Bland. The analysis eventually included the way the department hires, promotes and trains its police officers.
Corvello was named chief of police in August. At the time of his appointment, Maroney said that Corvello, during his tenure as interim chief, had ``demonstrated his outstanding leadership qualities and his skill in law enforcement management.''
As chief, Corvello aggressively investigated a series of attacks on young schoolgirls in the city's minority-dominated southeast community.
The attacks, which remain unsolved, have plagued the city's East End since 1990.
Corvello established an anonymous-tip hot line that drew hundreds of citizen responses. He also increased patrols and engaged the community in developing a dialogue about how additional attacks could be prevented.
In his news release Tuesday, Maroney credited Corvello with streamlining police operations, assessing and revising the department's community policing program and evaluating equipment needs and officer training.
``He is a tremendous asset to our city and to the Newport News Police Department,'' Maroney said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Newport News Chief of Police William F. Corvello, 63, will stay on
until fall to assist in the recruitment and selection of his
successor.
by CNB