DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 1997              TAG: 9704020469

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   47 lines

SUFFOLK OFFICIALS TO ADVISE ON SECURITY FOR CHURCHES

Since someone broke into an East Washington Street church a couple of years ago, its members have tried to make it harder for burglars to hit the property again.

They've put a driveway around the building so police can easily inspect the property, and they've added lights to illuminate the area, said Suffolk Policeman Junious H. Jackson.

Jackson and Assistant Fire Marshal A.G. Barrett will discuss church security and protection at 7 tonight at Lakeland High School.

``The darkest side of the church is the weakest point,'' said Jackson, a member of the department's community service unit.

He and Barrett have canvassed the 430-square-mile city, checking the exterior of more than 100 churches.

They've come up with numerous suggestions churches can use to cut down on burglaries and fires as well as to make sure emergency workers can reach the church quickly.

They've been assisted by a number of police officers, working overtime for three weeks, thanks to a federal grant made possible by President Clinton in response to church arsons in the South. The city got $4,600 to help beef up security at its churches, none of which has been hit by arson.

Among the tips: installing an alarm system, adding exterior lighting, placing motion detectors high enough to prevent burglars from reaching them, cutting back shrubbery that could provide hiding places, planting prickly shrubs beneath windows and installing high-tempered glass that is difficult to shatter.

Electronic equipment is a particularly popular target of church burglaries, police said.

Anyone unable to attend the meeting may fill out a card at the Suffolk Police Department to list two or more contact people and phone numbers in case of emergency.

If invited, the officers will inspect the inside of any of the churches and recommend additional security measures.

``We're going to do everything we can to keep the churches as safe as possible,'' Jackson said.

For details, call 925-6350. ILLUSTRATION: TO GO

Suffolk Policeman Junious H. Jackson and Assistant Fire Marshal A.G.

Barrett will discuss church security and protection at 7 tonight at

Lakeland High School. For more information, call 925-6350.

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