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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 052-2018 Bal Harbour Police Department - 2017 Annual Uniform Crime ReportBAL HARBOUR - VILLAGE - OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER To: From: Date: Subject: LETTER TO COUNCIL NO. 052-2018 Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager March 16, 2018 i Bal Harbour Police Department - 2017 Annual Uniform Crime Report The purpose of this Letter to the Council (LTC) is to transmit to you the results of the Bal Harbour Village's Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics for Part I Crimes in calendar year 2017 published by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Overall crime was down 7.1%. The overall crime rate is calculated by the number of Violent Part I crimes divided by the reported population rate. Part I Crimes includes the following violent and non-violent crimes: Part I Violent Crimes • Homicide • Rape • Robbery • Aggravated Assault; Part 1 Non -Violent Crimes • Burglary • Larceny • Motor Vehicle Theft The total Part I UCR Crimes for 2017 were 83, a 12.6% reduction from the prior year and a 23% reduction since 2014. Violent crimes remained unchanged at 2. The chart below depicts the Part I UCR for the most recent calendar years: Type of Crime: 2014 2015 2016 2017 Difference from 2016 Difference from 2014 Total Violent Crime 2 1 2 2 Flat Flat Total Property Crimes 106 94 93 81 12.9% V 24% • Total Part I UCR Crimes 108 95 95 83 12.6% ♦ 23% • LTC 048-2018: Bal Harbour Police Department - 2017 Annual Uniform Crime Report Page2of3 In 2016 and 2017, violent crimes remained flat and within the department's historical trend. The two violent crimes recorded for 2017 were Aggravated Assaults. The first incident was a road rage offense involving two non-residents. The second offense was a shooting in the parking lot of the Carlton Terrace. The victim of the shooting impeded the criminal investigation by not fully cooperating with investigators. This investigation revealed this victim appeared to have been specifically targeted. In 2017, property crimes decreased by 8 crimes compared to 2016 and decreased by 25 from 2014. The reduction in property crimes could be attributed to the Bal Harbour Police Department's proactive policing tactics. These tactics include the deployment of personnel and resources that provide high visibility patrols in target areas, and enhanced traffic enforcement aimed at preventing and deterring criminal activity. Arrests were at 92, representing a modest decrease from the prior year, but remain up since 2014. 2016 appears to have been an anomaly to our historical trend. The chart below. depicts total arrests made for the most recent years: 2014 2015 2016 2017 Difference from 2016 Difference from 2014 Arrests Totals 82 85 114 92 19% ♦ 12% ♦` A good test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in mitigating and responding to crime. In 2017, there were 22 less arrests than were recorded in 2016, but 10 more than 2014. Clearance rate, is the status of reported crimes and final disposition. If a crime is solved, it is considered a clearance usually by an arrest or exceptional clearance. A clearance by exception is when an arrest cannot be claimed due to some reason beyond the control of law enforcement. Exceptional clearances include but are not limited to the following reasons: the death of the perpetrator, prosecution or extradition declined, or the suspect was identified, however, there was insufficient evidence to support prosecution. During 2017, 31.3% of Part I UCR crimes were cleared by either arrest or exceptional clearances. This represents an 11.9% decrease from 2016, but remains higher than 2014. The national average clearance rate on Part I property crimes range between 13.1% - 20.4 %. In 2017, the police department's clearance rate was well above the national average. The chart below summarizes the clearance rates for Part I UCR crimes for the recent calendar years: 2014 2015 2016 2017 Difference from 2016 Difference from 2014 Clearance Rates 25.9% 36.8% 43.2% 31.3% 11.9 % ♦ 5.4% LTC 048-2018: Bal Harbour Police Department - 2017 Annual Uniform Crime Report Page 2 of 3 A useful workload measure monitored by law enforcement agencies is the recovered value of stolen property. In 2017, $246,470 was recovered as a result of persistent proactive interventions by police personnel thus resulting in a 144% increase of recovered property compared to 2016. The chart below summarizes the total amount of property recovered for the three most recent calendar years 2015, 2016, and 2017: 2014 2015 2016 2017 Difference from 2016 Difference from 2014 Total Property Recovered $118,441 $33,477 $101,020 $246,470 108% In 2014, during a departmental reorganization and restructuring, the Bal Harbour police department implemented a community policing and engagement strategy aimed at preventing crime and building a sustained community relationship. The community policing model outlined a blueprint on how the department would implement certain strategies and initiatives. A key ingredient in that strategy was to obtain "buy in" from each individual officer, creating a mindset that community policing is both an organizational and individual officer's responsibility. Our approach is predicated on collaboration with our residents, civic associations,. businesses, city officials and neighborhood leaders to identify, evaluate and encourage effective strategies to prevent crime and preserve the safety of our citizens. This successful approach and philosophy has attributed to the overall success of the police department and unsolicited positive public commentary from the residents of Bal Harbour. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Acting Chief Raleigh Flowers, Jr. or me directly. JMG/RF