Thomasville Police Department recently released its first monthly summary report, detailing exactly what happens and where throughout the Chair City in an attempt to enlighten citizens about their community.
“We want to give the community a better overall picture of what’s going on,” Insley said. “We feel this is a better way of doing that instead of just giving them numbers.”
Part of the new monthly reports details crime statistics for Thomasville. According to the report, at the end of December, index offenses were 23 percent lower than the same 12-month period last year. Violent crimes, including rape, murder, robbery and assault, decreased by six percent, and property crimes, for example larceny, arson and burglary, fell by 24 percent. Burglaries overall, however, were up 11 percent and individual robberies rose 40 percent from five to seven cases.
“We can’t take all the credit for the downward spiral in crime,” said Maj. James Mills. “It seems to be a nationwide trend, but we do feel some of that comes from our contributions and from what we do through patrols and follow-ups to crime investigations.”
In the past year, TPD reported a total of 2,911 crimes, which is down by 548 from 2008. The department also made 2,576 arrests last year, a decrease of 491 from the previous 12-month period. There were two less murders and 60 less violent crimes in 2009. Drug offenses also dropped by 189 arrests.
The monthly report also details the new reorganization implemented by Insley. Under the chief will be three bureaus — administrative, investigative services and field operations. The administrative bureau will be responsible for records, training, permits, inspections, internal affairs, media and new hires. The investigative services bureau will handle all investigations, evidence, juvenile crime prevention, crime stoppers, gang intelligence, task force meetings and school resource officers. The field operations bureau is responsible for patrol, off-duty employment, special events, use of force and pursuits and supervisor’s meetings.
“The chief’s initiative is to keep people informed,” Mills said. “He wants to build camaraderie within the agency and with the citizens. Council members also will receive this reports so they can have a greater understanding of what the department is doing and what’s going on within the city.”
TPD also will be launching a new website in the next couple of months that allow for greater access to departmental information and who to contact within the department for a specific question or need.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
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