AGENDA #11
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Downtown Crime
DATE: November 22 , 2004
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information about crime in the downtown business area. For the purposes of this report the downtown area is the area bordered by Robertson Lane, Rosemary Street, Merritt Mill Road and Franklin Street.
BACKGROUND
Since July, three violent or potentially violent acts in the downtown area have raised concerns about safety in the downtown area.
- On July 11 at 6:30 PM, two visitors from Michigan were robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot next to 411 West. The couple was not physically hurt.
- On October 2 at 2:30 AM, a foot patrol officer heard three gunshots in the area of East Rosemary Street and Columbia Street. The officer located an individual who had been shot in the leg while walking along East Rosemary. The victim reported that he was shot by a passenger in a passing vehicle. The victim knew the assailant but refused to cooperate with investigators.
- On October 13 at 1:00 AM, an individual was robbed of his wallet and stabbed several times with a knife while he was walking along the 300 block of West Rosemary Street. Prior to the robbery the assailants had been following the victim in a vehicle. One of the passengers got out of the vehicle, robbed and assaulted the victim. The victim suffered several defensive wounds to his arms and two puncture wounds to his upper torso. The victim was treated and released from the hospital within 24 hours.
In 1984, the Town Council approved the addition of eight police positions for assignment to the downtown. The Police Department continues to assign eight foot patrol officers to the area. One officer provides daytime coverage on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. This officer will work on Saturday morning in lieu of a weekday if a special event is scheduled or if a large number of visitors is expected downtown. Four of the eight officers provide nighttime coverage from 3:30 PM through 3:30 AM, seven nights per week. One of the eight officers is used to provide relief to cover absences related to training, vacation, and illness. The remaining two officers work closely with the Department’s Northside patrol unit and the narcotics unit. These two officers also work closely with the State Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) officers to monitor compliance with alcohol laws and regulations in retail establishments.
In addition to the eight-person downtown unit, the regular patrol platoons make every effort to assign at least one bike officer to downtown patrol as staffing levels permit.
DISCUSSION
Over the past three years the number of crimes in downtown has decreased and the number of arrests has increased. Attachment 1 illustrates the downward progression of major crime incidents that occurred in the Central Business District from FY 2001-02 through FY 2003-04 (NOTE: The State reporting system classifies homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft as major crimes.) The table on Attachment 1 presents numerical data about these same crimes. From FY 2001-02 to FY 2003-04, major crimes in downtown decreased 22%, from 406 to 318. Robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and larcenies all decreased.
Attachment 2 presents a chart illustrating major crime incidents during the first quarter of each year since FY 2001-02. The table on Attachment 2 presents numerical data for these same crimes. The number of major crimes in the first quarter of FY 2004-05 is down 40% from the same period in FY 2001-02 (from 108 to 65) and down 29% from the same period in FY 2003-04 (from 91 to 65).
Attachment 3 presents a table showing downtown, non-traffic arrest information for Fiscal Year 2001-02 through 2003-04. Overall arrests increased 19% in that three-year period (from 441 to 526). Arrests for violent and other personal crimes increased by 81% (from 47 to 85). The increase in arrests for alcohol-related offenses indicates the department’s efforts to monitor compliance with alcohol laws in the Central Business District.
Though not considered major crimes for State reporting purposes, disturbance calls have increased in the downtown area over the past three years. These calls include fights and disorderly conduct. The chart and table on Attachment 4 shows that disturbance calls are up 40% since FY 2001-02 (from 52 to 73). Correspondingly, the number of arrests for fighting and disorderly conduct increased by 32% (from 44 to 58) for the same period. Disturbance calls during the first quarter of this year were up 19% from a year ago (from 27 to 32). Most of these disturbances occur between the hours of midnight and 3:00 AM and involve intoxicated individuals. Most occur at or near late-night clubs, bars or restaurants.
There is not always a direct correlation between the number of crimes committed and the public perception of safety. High profile incidents such as the three noted above may cause people to be concerned about safety even if the total number of criminal incidents has dropped significantly. Many people base their perceptions of safety on what is read or heard versus what is experienced. Safety concerns often arise not from the fear of crime but from the level of one’s comfort with the environment. Issues such as police visibility, lighting, cleanliness, safe traffic flow, ease of foot travel, and availability of public accommodations are all factors that affect an individual’s comfort level in a particular environment.
The data provided herein notes that serious crime in downtown has decreased over the past three years. It also indicates that disturbance crimes, while higher than in years past, most often affect those who frequent the downtown after midnight. The Police Department will continue efforts to reduce both types of crime.
SUMMARY
The Police Department continues to provide foot and bike patrol officers downtown. Though staffing levels for the downtown patrol unit have remained steady for the past twenty years the officers have made a positive impact on crime rates downtown. We believe that recent changes to the panhandling ordinance, physical enhancements such as those resulting from the Streetscape program, changes to the sidewalk dining ordinance, and continued efforts to fill vacant office and retail properties are all contributing to making the downtown area a safe, inviting place to visit.
ATTACHMENTS
- Reported Major Crimes in the Central Business District Fiscal Year 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 (p. 4).
- Reported Major Crimes in the Central Business District First Quarter for Fiscal Years 2001-2002 to 2004-2005 (p. 5).
3. Non-Traffic Arrests in the Central Business District Fiscal Year 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 (p. 6).
Reported Major Crimes in the Central Business District
Fiscal Year 2001-2002 to 2003-2004
|
|
|
|
|
% change |
|
|
01-02 |
02-03 |
03-04 |
01-02 to 03-04 |
|
Homicide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
same |
|
Rape |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-- |
|
Robbery |
29 |
23 |
19 |
-34% |
|
Aggravated Assault |
31 |
41 |
24 |
-23% |
|
Burglary |
53 |
24 |
38 |
-28% |
|
Larceny |
281 |
247 |
222 |
-21% |
|
Motor Vehicle Theft |
12 |
14 |
14 |
+17% |
|
Total |
406 |
349 |
318 |
-22% |
Reported Major Crimes in the Central Business District
First Quarter for Fiscal Years 2001-2002 to 2004-2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
% change |
|
|
01-02 |
02-03 |
03-04 |
04-05 |
01-02 to 04-05 |
|
Property |
93 |
70 |
78 |
49 |
-47% |
|
Personal |
15 |
20 |
13 |
16 |
+7% |
|
Total |
108 |
90 |
91 |
65 |
-40% |
Non-Traffic Arrests in the Central Business District
Fiscal Year 2001-2002 to 2003-2004
|
|
|
|
|
% change |
|
|
01-02 |
02-03 |
03-04 |
01-02 to 03-04 |
|
Property* |
53 |
44 |
40 |
-25% |
|
Drugs |
66 |
65 |
62 |
-6% |
|
Alcohol |
21 |
22 |
53 |
+152% |
|
Disorderly Conduct/ Fighting |
44 |
47 |
58 |
+32% |
|
Violent/Personal** |
47 |
85 |
85 |
+81% |
|
Local Ordinance*** |
78 |
44 |
73 |
-6% |
|
Total |
441 |
431 |
526 |
+19% |
* Includes Burglary, Larceny, Motor Vehicle Theft, Fraud, Embezzlement, Vandalism
** Includes Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Sexual Offenses
***Includes Public Consumption of Alcohol, Open Container of Alcohol, Public Urination, Panhandling,
and Violation of the Noise Ordinance
Disturbance Calls in the Central Business District
Fiscal Year 2001-2002 to 2003-2004
|
|
|
|
% change |
|
01-02 |
02-03 |
03-04 |
01-02 to 03-04 |
|
52 |
79 |
73 |
+40% |