Property crimes declined sharply here in 2008, and Police Chief Noel Foster is crediting the police department’s “aggressive patrol techniques” for the reduction.
According to Sgt. Paul Brown, fourteen burglaries occurred during the past year, down 30 percent from 2007. Auto thefts dropped to 13 from 18, a decrease of 28 percent. Others thefts numbered 101 in 2008, representing a 10 percent slide from 2007’s total of 111.
“We did have increases in other reported crimes, but they were offenses that patrol techniques wouldn’t necessarily help in preventing,” said Foster.
Rapes jumped 33 percent, but of the three reported incidents, two were “exceptionally cleared,” one as a second-degree sexual assault, and the other was determined to be “unfounded.”
“Exceptionally cleared” meets the following criteria – the identity of the offender is known, there is sufficient evidence to support an arrest, and there’s reasoning outside police control that stops or prevents the offender or offenders from being charged. Reasoning may include a victim’s decision not to prosecute, death of an offender, the offender is a juvenile who is released to his or her parents rather than charged, an offender is already serving a prison term for another crime, and jurisdiction particulars.
A case is “unfounded” when an investigation yields no evidence to verify an incident or the report is determined to be false.
“Cleared by arrest” indicates the case in question culminated with the arrest of a suspect or suspects.
Twenty-five forgeries were reported in 2008, an increase of 28 percent. Batteries were also up 28 percent, to 33.
As usual, there were no homicides here last year. One robbery occurred in 2007, but none were reported in 2008.
The police department last year cleared all reported batteries and 38 thefts, auto thefts and burglaries. Three forgeries – inclusive of computer financial and identity thefts – were cleared.
“The police department does its best to prevent crime, but we also work hard to solve crimes,” said Foster.
“I’m proud of the team at the White Hall Police Department,” said Mayor James “Jitters” Morgan. “They do a great job and I hope everyone in the city realizes how appreciative we should be to the whole bunch.”
Property crimes declined sharply here in 2008, and Police Chief Noel Foster is crediting the police department’s “aggressive patrol techniques” for the reduction.
According to Sgt. Paul Brown, fourteen burglaries occurred during the past year, down 30 percent from 2007. Auto thefts dropped to 13 from 18, a decrease of 28 percent. Others thefts numbered 101 in 2008, representing a 10 percent slide from 2007’s total of 111.
“We did have increases in other reported crimes, but they were offenses that patrol techniques wouldn’t necessarily help in preventing,” said Foster.
Rapes jumped 33 percent, but of the three reported incidents, two were “exceptionally cleared,” one as a second-degree sexual assault, and the other was determined to be “unfounded.”
“Exceptionally cleared” meets the following criteria – the identity of the offender is known, there is sufficient evidence to support an arrest, and there’s reasoning outside police control that stops or prevents the offender or offenders from being charged. Reasoning may include a victim’s decision not to prosecute, death of an offender, the offender is a juvenile who is released to his or her parents rather than charged, an offender is already serving a prison term for another crime, and jurisdiction particulars.
A case is “unfounded” when an investigation yields no evidence to verify an incident or the report is determined to be false.
“Cleared by arrest” indicates the case in question culminated with the arrest of a suspect or suspects.
Twenty-five forgeries were reported in 2008, an increase of 28 percent. Batteries were also up 28 percent, to 33.
As usual, there were no homicides here last year. One robbery occurred in 2007, but none were reported in 2008.
The police department last year cleared all reported batteries and 38 thefts, auto thefts and burglaries. Three forgeries – inclusive of computer financial and identity thefts – were cleared.
“The police department does its best to prevent crime, but we also work hard to solve crimes,” said Foster.
“I’m proud of the team at the White Hall Police Department,” said Mayor James “Jitters” Morgan. “They do a great job and I hope everyone in the city realizes how appreciative we should be to the whole bunch.”
