Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home’s serious crime rate increased in 2004 while those in Lebanon and Albany decreased, according to the 2004 FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
The FBI report, which tracks crime rates in communities throughout the United States, was released at the end of October.
Serious crimes include murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Sweet Home’s crime rate increased from 71.2 per 1,000 population in 2003 to 84.7 per 1,000 in 2004. Lebanon’s rate decreased from 94.7 in 2003 to 89.4. Albany’s rate decreased from 96.6 in 2003 to 88.5 in 2004.
Sweet Home had 58 violent crimes, including 51 aggravated assaults, and 644 property crimes, including 459 thefts.
In 2002, Sweet Home had a rate of just 53.2 per 1,000 while Albany carried a rate of 96.6 and Lebanon, 94.7.
Salem’s rate decreased from 84.8 to 74 per 1,000 in 2004. Portland’s rate decreased from 85 to 83.7. Springfield’s rate decreased from 81.1 to 74. New York City’s rate decreased from 29.2 to 28.
Oregon’s rate was 49.2 overall. The national rate decreased from 41.25 in 2003 to 39.8 in 2004.
“We fully intend to keep our status as the safest city in Linn County, but we are struggling right now,” Sweet Home Police Chief Bob Burford said.
“It’s too early to know what is happening in Lebanon and Albany for 2005, but I suspect they are also getting hit hard by an increase in crime and calls for service.”
Burford noted that the FBI statistics are for 2004, when Sweet Home had what he called “an unprecedented increase in call demand.” As the number of calls to which officers must respond increases, the time available for them to investigate and make arrests decreases.
“Subsequently, more bad guys get away with criminal activity,” he said.
“In 2004, we had not added a single police officer in the previous 12 years and, in fact, lost one position. However, during the same period, our call demand increased by 33 percent, or approximately 2,200 responses.”
Since 2004, the department has restored the position, but the position has been unfilled most of the year. The new officer is in field training right now and will probably not be working solo before 2006.
“Things are worsening in 2005,” Burford said. “By the time this story is published, Sweet Home officers will have responded to about the same number of calls for service as they did during the entire record-setting 2004 year.”
Burford has avoided adding staff during his tenure as chief, he said. Instead, he has focused on improving equipment and efficiency to provide community law enforcement at the lowest possible cost.
“Now, we’ve reached critical mass, and I have to try and get my officers some more help,” Burford said. “Something’s got to give. We’re going to have to get at least one more officer and help these guys out. The cost to the community in property theft loss alone far, far outweighs the cost to add a police officer or two.”
For example, he said, in December 2004, the community had $67,000 in property lost to burglaries and thefts.
“That’s pretty much the cost of a cop right there,” Burford said.