'Fifth District Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. pledged his support Friday for better resources for law enforcement, including more in-car video cameras for Albemarle County police.

Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-Fairfax County, and other prominent Republicans braved the raw weather to support Goode, RRocky Mount, at a Court Squar news conference.

'Virgil works hard for his constituents,' Wolf said. 'It's in his blood, and it's in his voice, you can tell.'

Wolf and Goode serve on the House Appropriations Committee, where Goode has proposed $100,000 for police-car cameras in Albemarle and lesser amounts for video cameras for the sheriff's offices of Greene, Fluvanna, Buckingham and Nelson counties.

'As far as prosecutions, they've helped out a lot,' said Sgt. Dan Blake of the Albemarle County Police Department.

Thirty-five cars currently have cameras, and if Goode's measure passes, the county likely will buy 10 to 15 more, Blake said.

'The camera's a beautiful tool,' Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos said.

'You will have drunk drivers get convicted,' said Del. Rob Bell, RAlbemarle County and a former prosecutor. 'With a camera running, those tricks and loopholes don't apply.'

Besides the cameras, Goode is working on an allocation of $40,000 for mobile data processors for Charlottesville police.

He also reiterated his support 'on principle' for the proposed U.S. 29 western bypass, following Thursday night's debate in Hampden-Sydney with opponent Meredith Richards.

The Democrat's name, however, didn't come up during the briefing.' (Kate Andrews, Daily Progress, October 26, 2002).