Calls for service to Sweet Home Police Department increased “dramatically” in 2000 and remained high in 2001, according to the department’s annual report.
Total reported crimes decreased from an eight-year peak of 7,894 in 2000 to 7,836 in 2001. That was following an increase from 7,085 in 1999. In the last eight years, total reported crimes was at its lowest in 1996, with 7,004.
“Burglary, theft and criminal mischief have remained relatively stable for a third year,” Chief Bob Burford said. Those are considered “bellwether” indicator crimes. Burglaries and criminal mischief were down slightly while the number of thefts increased.
“One bright spot was that last year’s alarming upswing in aggravated assaults seems to have been an anomaly,” Chief Burford said. “These cases dropped by nearly 29 percent in 2001.”
With high call volume and unfilled officer positions, officers found less time for traffic enforcement throughout the year, Chief Burford said. This resulted in a significant 45 percent reduction in traffic citations, which correlates with a 10 percent increase in the number of motor vehicle accidents.
Total, the department initiated 793 arrests, 597 adults and 196 juveniles, resulting in 1,130 criminal charges. Police issued 819 traffic citations and 833 warnings for minor traffic violations. The department handled 7,402 calls, ranging from reports of felony crimes to informational complaints. The department had an average of 10 patrol officers during the year. It is authorized for 12.
In 2001, 74 burglaries were reported, down from 81 in 2000 and an eight-year high of 106 in 1994. The eight-year low was 69 in 1998.
Theft was up to 330 from 279 in 1999 and 2000, the lowest number in the last eight years. It was down from an eight-year high of 443 in 1994.
Criminal mischief was at its lowest point in eight years, with 104 calls, down from 106 last year and 191 at its peak in 1994. This followed a continuous trend downward over the last eight years.
Traffic citations were down to 849 from 1,477 in 2000. The department issued a peak of 1,860 traffic citations in 1998. Motor vehicle accidents increased from 92 to 101 last year down from an eight-year high of 140 in 1995 and down from 107 in 1999.
“I’d say it’s a direct result of heavy call loads with far fewer experienced officers on the road,” Chief Burford said. “Several of our officers are still in training where they’ve been riding with another officer. I’m hoping to see that figure come back up this year.”
Correspondingly, Chief Burford would like to see the number of motor vehicle accidents decrease.
Vehicle impounds were down also from 401 in 2000 to 322 in 2001. Vehicles may be impounded when drivers are drunk, uninsured, suspended or revoked.
Part I crimes were up to 461 in 2001 from 426 in 2000. Part I crimes include serious and violent crimes, such as murder, forcible rape, robbery, burglary and theft. Burglary and theft were the majority of the Part I crimes reported in Sweet Home last year, along with 29 aggravated assaults and 16 motor vehicle thefts.
That was a rate of 56.5 per thousand residents in 2001. Numbers for other municipalities were unavailable at press time.
Over the five previous years, Sweet Home had the lowest crime rate for cities with police departments in Part I crimes in Linn County. In 2000, Sweet Home’s rate was 53.19 per thousand. Albany was 70.02, and Lebanon was 68.63. Linn County had a rate of 31.53.
In 1996, Sweet Home had a rate of 65.38. Lebanon was 86.1, and Albany was 87.68. Linn County was 37.49.
Property loss was high in 2001, $1,742,271 up from $320,114 in 2000. $1.5 million is attributed to the fire at Santiam Forest Products, which has been treated as an unsolved arson.
“Trends are still heading basically downward with bumps here and there,” Chief Burford said.