DATE: Saturday, May 17, 1997                TAG: 9705170314

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   38 lines

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE ONLINE THREAT TO GOV. ALLENVIRGINIA STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE THREAT SENT TO GOV. ALLEN OVER THE INTERNET

Virginia State Police are investigating what they call a ``threat to the safety'' of Gov. George F. Allen, sent to his office electronically over the Internet.

They would not release many details but said the threat was received recently and believed to be connected to a student protest of the governor planned for today. The threat came by e-mail through the World Wide Web page maintained by the governor's office.

Lt. Col. Wayne Garrett, director of the State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau, said he is treating the threat as a criminal matter and will share evidence with prosecutors. He would not say whether police have any suspects.

Making threats to the governor or a member of his family is a specific crime in Virginia. A felony, it is punishable by as many as five years in prison.

``With any public official, from time to time you receive threats,'' Garrett said. ``But we're taking it very seriously.''

Allen is scheduled to give the commencement address to graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University today. Some students, unhappy with state funding for colleges and other education policies during Allen's tenure, have told VCU officials they will wave handkerchiefs during his speech.

A spokesperson for the school said administrators are not discouraging the students' protest but are working with them to ensure it doesn't disrupt the graduation. No students have claimed knowledge of any threats to the governor.

The graduation, which will include about 4,500 students, plus teachers and guests, will be held in the downtown Richmond Coliseum.

Garrett would not discuss the governor's security detail, but said ``we are making some provisions'' because of the threat. The state police provide varying degrees of security at all the governor's public appearances. KEYWORDS: INTERNET THREAT

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