Crime & Safety

Crime Drops in Nine Categories in Gwinnett

Gwinnett Police Department also reported average response time to emergencies decreased.

 

Gwinnett’s crime rate in nine major categories dropped in 2011 compared to 2010, according to figures announced last week by the Gwinnett County Police Department. The average response time to emergencies in the first six months of 2011 also dropped from almost seven minutes to less than five and a half.

The department reported 4 percent fewer arson incidents in 2011, 20 percent fewer vehicle thefts, 17 percent fewer rapes and 20 percent fewer cases of theft from a motor vehicle. There were also decreases in robberies, residential burglaries and aggravated battery. Aggravated assaults fell almost 9 percent, while business burglaries were down about 4 percent. The total number of gang-related incidents fell almost 5 percent, according to the announcement.

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In 2011 there were 24 homicides, up from 20 in 2010. Of the homicides, 10 were domestic-related, five were drug-related, five involved robbery, three were police-involved shootings, and one was an unknown situation. Almost 88 percent of these homicides have been cleared, and investigators have strong leads in several of the still unsolved cases.

“Of course I’m pleased to report these results, which are in line with trends we’ve seen since 2009,” Gwinnett Police Chief Charles Walters said in the announcement. “We were fortunate to be able to hire and graduate 54 new officers nearly two years ago that brought our staff to the full authorized level about this time last year.” The department recently hired 28 new police recruits to fill vacant positions, and the new Police Academy class started on Nov. 30.

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Walters pointed out that violent crimes in Gwinnett are down 21 percent in the past two years, compared with a 5 percent drop statewide. Property crime was down 6 percent compared to a statewide drop of just two-tenths of 1 percent, he said.

Twenty-five vacant police positions will not be filled in order to cut $1.4 million out of the 2012 budget, Walters reported. He requested no new personnel, no new vehicles and will defer replacing 37 percent of the vehicles that would normally be replaced next year. The department cut another $12,000 in maintenance costs at its headquarters and precinct buildings.

2011 Statistics compared to 2010

Category                      Percent Decrease

Entering Vehicle             19.98%

Vehicle Theft                  19.83%

Rape                              17.47%

Robbery                         12.45%

Aggravated Assault         8.68%

Burglary/Residential        6.94%

Aggravated Battery         4.17%

Burglary/Business           4.16%

Arson                             4.00%

 

Trends 2009 – 2010

Crime Type                 Gwinnett         Georgia           U.S.

Violent Crime                Down 20.8%    Down 5%         Down 5.5%

Property Crime              Down 6.4%      Down 0.2%      Down 2.8%


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