YOUR NUMBER'S UP PAINTING ADDRESS ON ROOF URGED TO AID COPTER COPS.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Two-foot-high numbers are being painted on the roofs of homes and businesses in Glendale in a new program to help police helicopter crews responding to crime scenes.

Officials say helicopters are usually the first on the scene, but the pilot might not be able to identify a specific address when he's hovering 200 feet above ground.

Stenciling street addresses on curbs is a common practice, but painting the numbers on rooftops is rare. Some property owners take it on themselves to have identifying numbers painted on their roofs, but Glendale appears to be one of the few cities in the nation to sponsor a program, officials say.

``We may or may not be able to read numbers on the house or the curb, especially at night, if there are trees or the numbers are faded,'' Officer Bill Donley of Glendale's Air Support Unit said Friday. ``If the numbers are on the roof, we can pinpoint the exact location we're trying to find and we can begin to direct the ground personnel to the right location.''

Crews have painted numbers on about two dozen roofs. The Police Department hopes more home and business owners will support the plan.

``Most city buildings we're familiar enough with their location, but you start to get some of these little businesses on long blocks - it becomes a guessing game,'' Donley said. ``Even if we get one or two painted rooftops on each block, it gives you some reference.''

The city has hired 64 young people, ages 14-23, as part of its Youth Alliance Employment program, to do the painting. The service costs $40 for homes and $99 for businesses.

The fee - which is tax-deductible - is split between the Youth Alliance and Glendale Crimestoppers, which donates the paint and stencils.

``Not only are we serving residents, we're serving our youths and assisting the Police Department,'' said Sarah Watson, program specialist for the Youth Alliance.

Armed with large stencils and spray paint, the workers paint the numbers where they can be seen from above but not from the street.

``We really make an attempt to place the numbers in a location where it's not going to be an eyesore,'' Donley said. ``We didn't want something aesthetically unattractive.''

Painters took about 10 minutes Friday at Adam Portman's home, where they painted his street number on the roof.

``If it helps the helicopter pilot to get the bad guy faster, that's all the better, right?'' Portman said. ``I already feel pretty safe here. But if something does happen here, I hope that helps.''

The 2-foot-tall numerals painted on could mean the difference between life and death.

``It speeds up the process of getting help where it's needed,'' said Watson from Youth Alliance. ``It not only helps track suspects, it helps pinpoint the exact location to law enforcement.''

``That's what makes a difference,'' she said. ``It can save minutes in a crucial situation.''

Glendale implemented the program about 15 years ago, but it was phased out because of liability concerns. Youth Alliance workers are covered by city insurance so that issue has been addressed, officials said.

Glendale's program has attracted the attention of other agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, which had hoped to start a similar project, said Officer Jaime Marin of the LAPD's Air Support Division. But the city's budget problems put an end to the proposal.

``I think it's a great program,'' Marin said. ``Anything that assists you in identifying the location the first time around increases officer and public safety.''

For information on the roof-to painting project, call Sarah Watson at [phone].

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

E-MAIL naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Alfred Garciga and Rene Arrazcaeta of Glendale Youth Alliance spray-paint a rooftop address number.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News