Sunday, January 17, 2010

DeKalb Murder Rate And Other Crimes Drop

Crime remains one of the top complaints from residents, but the murder rate in DeKalb dropped almost 44 percent from 2008 to 2009 — the sharpest decrease in the metro region.

Crime statistics released to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show overall crime is down 19 percent in the county. The only crime that went up is rape.

Again we ask why Bill O'Brien has not been named permanent chief of police?

Maybe there's another factor to look at. While Terrell Bolton was chief, crime was through the roof with the murder rate being at an all time high. He gets fired, and crime goes down.

Click here for more.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did they change 58s to 92s to lower the stats ;)

Anonymous said...

Most jurisdictions murder rates dropped to take credit is unfortunate just like taking the blame when they go back up is also wrong.I do not know why this happened but I know we are not responsible.

Anonymous said...

So crime went down 19% in 2009 compared to 2008? Well that is certainly better than it going up but you should keep it in perspective. 2008 was absolutely horrible. It was the worst year in DeKalb County history. So we are just comparing 2009 to 2008 and saying everything is great now. But in reality crime is still very bad in this county.

If DeKalb Officers were really trying to be accurate in it’s reporting it would report what has been going on in the last couple of months. Crime has really spiked, and as I said above, it was already bad. This includes a spike in murders. Maybe DeKalb Officers doesn’t know what has been going on lately. But you certainly seem to know about everything else that goes on.

I know it will take a long time to REALLY get the crime rate down and to recover from Vernon and Bolton. My problem is that I just do not see a plan. The department’s plan to deal with crime seems to be TRT and ICP. This was Bolton’s plan and it is it also O’Brien’s plan? Of course the reality is that this is no plan at all. As others have posted on this blog, O’Brien is a great guy but he is probably in over his head.

Anonymous said...

* Exactly * and LOL at Anonymous #1 signals are changed all day everyday..."radio change this 87 to a 65".. "radio change this 92 to a 13" .."radio, patient is 10-56 c-d..ems is -7 change this *50* to a 38" Crime is horrible in Dekalb County we know it and the uppers know it, who do they think they're fooling? Idiots....

Anonymous said...

The murder rate has nothing to do with crime in DeKalb. Murder is its own entity. It can stem from any number or type of situation or crime. It can be spontaneous and unplanned, a crime of passion or plain stupidity.

Anonymous said...

I dont understand the last comment. Murder is it's own entity...the heading read Murder and other crimes down- Murder by some bogus 44% and other crimes 19% last comment also stated how murders are commited, you stated unplanned, passion...etc. Which supports the other comments about the signals being changed or not changed. You said murder can be unplanned...lets say the call came in as a 13 911 hang up, unit goes on scene and there's a 49. When has a unit ever said "radio change this call to a sig 58"??? It's all about the signals, which affect the stats. So, I dont understand your point...not starting an argument, just not clear.

Anonymous said...

True, but a lot of murders could be prevented if our DA's office would actually send people to prison instead of giving them probation for violating their probation by getting arrested for their 9th felony.

People in prison are not killing people in DeKalb County.

Agent99 said...

They don't take murder stats from radio codes. The fact of the matter is that homicides were down last year, and by a significant number. Anyone who ever walked into Major Felony and looked at the board could easily observe that. Furthermore, there were fewer homicides than not only 2008, but than a number of years before that as well. Only time will tell if that number is a trend or an anomaly (and January 2010 has been pretty rough so far). But nobody is rooking the numbers to hide murders. That's ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

Interesting...that murder stats arent calculated by radio codes. The article also stated "other crimes" are down by 19%...how are those stats calculated? Just curious.....

Anonymous said...

This topic seems geared toward the citizens. So, my comment is for them.

You know, as an officer, I think for the most part we have a well designed justice system. I think our laws with their punishments are satisfactory. The problem is, I believe when it comes time for sentencing, this society tends to be lenient.

I have heard it before from defense attorneys. "Oh he or she is this and that..." "...otherwise a good-standing member of their community." Perhaps. For a first time misdemeanor offense, well okay, so give the person a suspended sentence or probation in certain circumstances. Perhaps the person will have learned a good lesson. But, if a person commits ANY crime again and be convicted then that person should get the maximum punishment. That is the time for our judicial system to be hard (according to the black and white of the law) and educate the person that doing wrong is unacceptable. Our society will eventually get the message and the deterent factor will motivate voluntary compliance.

Our laws are designed to keep our society safe and civil. But, if the judicial system keeps taking the lenient route, then how can we expect deterence from those who choose to repeat offenses? Whatever that crime might be! And that's the whole point. Deterence; to generate voluntary compliance in our society.

For example, (I will use traffic laws), many people seem to think that not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or turning right on red is okay. You should already know (but reread the law if you must), it is not. Another example is speeding. Everyone does it, right? Well, 56 mph in a 55 mph zone is speeding and therefore against the law. Now, I and I hope all other officers will not make smack you with "the letter of the law". And yes, to a degree there is some tolerance exercised by all law enforcement. But, tolerance is not defined in the law. Think about this. If you are walking down a trail and come upon a poisonous snake, it could bite you. Not good. Heed the warning of the rattle or coiled body. So, when you see a uniformed officer or patrol car, think of it as a snake. It might bite. Do you want to be bit?

Remember when convicted criminals were once publicly punished? Part of that was to humiliate them in front of the society for the crime. Humiliation is very persuasive and effective. But, now I guess it is considered cruel and unusual punishment. I disagree. I think of it as healing. It's time to stop being so soft all of the time. The consequences are there.

Everyone knows or should know the risk associated with commiting crimes. Traffic law included. It's time to be responsible and take responsibility and/or accountability for our actions.

As an officer, it does not set well with me when someone asks me for a warning or break. To tell you the truth, I already have my mind made up based on the evidence. As you can see here, you already have your warnings in place. There called laws. Everyone knows better or they should.

If I am asked for a warning, that person already knows that they were doing wrong. Therefore, consider yourself so warned. If I seem hard, I do not apologize. It is my intent to serve the greater good of the "public". Not individuals. I serve and protect the public from individuals. Now you know my interpretation of "to serve and protect".

Anonymous said...

I hate to be gloom n doom but we have a couple hundred boatloads of uneducated Haitians headed our way. Get ready for crime to sky rocket! Officers please be safe out there.

Anonymous said...

The comment about the Haitians is
so unsympathetic. ......you need your as@ kicked!!!!!!

Agent99 said...

The stats are taken from UCR codes in our reports (at least the final stats are, they may pull preliminary stats from other sources). And what an officer titles a report does not determine what the end UCR code will be -- they go through an audit system and are examined by both record room personnel and officers. The "more serious" crimes like murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault receive the most scrutiny in the process, so they're not hiding murders by coding them as "person dead" or anything of the like.

Anonymous said...

In ref to the post about the Haitians being unsympathetic, If you want sympathy look between Sh*t and syphillis in the diction ary and you will find it and it is an useless emotion. I have sent a generous contribution to the Red Cross.Like the Katrina victims if we get the Haitians we will have a new crime problem. Not sympathetic but accurate.

Anonymous said...

Little do you know one of our own has kin in Haiti that has yet to be found and some are known to already have perished. Put yourself in his situation. .....don't be a bigot all of your life....Stupo!!! Learn a little bit of compassion but I forgot that isn't in your dictionary is it......You will get yours it's just a matter of time. Some things are left unsaid.

Anonymous said...

I really dont know where you get this stuff. You know nothing andprove it by these comments. The crimes reported have nothing to do what you call it over the radio or change it to. Get the facts and know what your talking about... Dam just the same old BS

Anonymous said...

It's just a coincidence. It doesn't directly relate to anything Chief O'Brien and/or CEO Ellis are doing. If it is...then what is it? A TASER deters people from killing? Nooooo Anything else that changed to cause this? I don't think so... Oh and about the Haitian comment on crime going up. It may be unsympathetic, but I agree. Same thing happened when New Orleans came here. That is why Step is gone...remember?! A New Orleans perp transplant killed him. I just hope the transplant Haitians don't get too out of control like they did.

Anonymous said...

I work so hard for what I have, and I'm hanging on by a thread. I wouldn't mind the murder rate going up if it was the loser perps esp. gang members killing each other. Leave me alone.