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Crime’s down in Fairburn

By BEN NELMS
bnelms@TheCitizenNews.com

A new method of assessing crime, traffic accidents and arrests has hit the streets in Fairburn. It is designed to be one piece of a much larger pie.

Recently released crime statistics for January and February provide a categorical break down in the areas of index crimes, traffic crashes and arrests. Index crimes include offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, arson, theft, auto theft and burglary.

New to the job in October, Chief Charles Long said he decided to implement the monthly statistical breakdown to provide tool for direct feedback for officers and to identify areas of concern for the city’s upcoming transition to accountability policing.

An analysis of each area shows index crimes down by 10 percent in January 2005 compared the January 2004. A total of 50 felonies occurred in January 2004 while 45 were recorded for the same period in 2005. Figures for February 2005 showed 33 incidents compared to 47 incidents in February 2004, a 20 percent decrease.

The index crime breakdown for January 2004 included two cases of aggravated assault, nine cases of auto theft, 37 cases of theft and two burglaries. This compares to January 2005, where the city experienced one case each in the categories of aggravated assault, robbery and arson, nine cases of auto theft, 30 cases of theft and three burglaries.

Index crime records for February 2004 showed one robbery, two incidents of aggravated assault, five auto thefts, 32 thefts and seven burglaries. Totals for February 2005 showed one robbery, two aggravated assaults, five auto thefts, 18 thefts and seven burglaries.

Traffic crashes declined four percent in January 2005 compared to January 2004, with 24 accidents in January 2004 compared to 24 in January 2005. Numbers increased in the February comparisons, with 26 accidents in 2004 and 34 in 2005, a 31 percent increase.

Arrest statistics were broken down into categories related to property, individuals, ordinances and other violations. Forty-five arrests were made in January 2005, representing an 18 percent decrease when compared to the 55 arrests made in January 2004. Arrests in February 2005 showed a 37 percent increase over February 2004 figures.

Long said there are variables, such as weather, that influence the occurrence of certain crimes. The same is true with traffic accidents, where weather, road conditions and the number of vehicles on the road come into play. Analysis and follow-up can help prevent crimes like theft, burglary and auto theft, said Long. Other crimes, such as murder and rape, are more difficult to prevent because they do not have the statistical predictors that can help facilitate prevention activities.

Viewed holistically, Long said the department will continue to track, document and analyze a variety of incidents with the aim of providing better police service to Fairburn citizens.

“All officers get copies of the statistical reports so they can get feedback on where we’re at,” he said, noting that numbers may sometimes decrease or increase depending on the numerous variables. “Reports are a kind of follow-up assessment and a measure of your program. They show the officer the areas to concentrate on the they show the job that’s being done.”

The crime statistics come on the cusp of a time of transformation for Fairburn Police. Conceived by Long and approved by the city council at his recommendation, a new system of accountability policing will be phased in later this year. The new system represents both a structural and a philosophical shift in law enforcement’s mission, Long said. It is one that emphasizes officer accountability through team-oriented proactive policing rather than shift-oriented reactive policing, he added.

“Most police departments operate reactively,” Long said. “But we want the long-range goal to be proactive. We want it to impact crime and the fear of crime. Everything we do needs to be deliberate, not random, not reactive.”