FIRST QUARTER REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
1. Police Department
As employees of the City of Salisbury, our mission is to protect and serve the public through police action. The functional area of the Department is Public Safety and its traditional primary functions are:
A. To protect life and property and to suppress crime.
B. To provide for related matters such as making arrests, enforcing laws, recovering lost or stolen property and preparing cases for court.
2. Police Department Goals and Objectives
Annually, the department assesses our progress towards the goals. Each division has sub-objectives which are used as measures to work towards the goals and as a means to assess progress. The sub-objectives are assigned to each division commander for accountability and reviewed quarterly.
A. Enhance Quality of Life for Residents and Businesses
• Initiate innovative strategies and maintain flexibility toward crime and disorder, street level narcotics, prostitution and quality of life issues.
• Implementation of training and enforcement programs directed at drug interdiction to reduce the availability of narcotics in the City.
• Continue cooperative efforts between the Salisbury Police Department, Salisbury University and property owners to address college/community issues.
• Educate the public to the community’s role and responsibility in the prevention, detection and resolution of crime and disorder by updating the Police Department’s Website regularly and having community meetings.
• Improve interaction of Salisbury Police Department patrol and community policing officers with businesses and substation residents.
B. Improve Customer Service
• Formulate new salary/benefits package to attract and maintain personnel for the Salisbury Police Department.
• Increase “Take Home” car program by two (2) vehicles for visibility and emergency response.
• Develop liaison position with business organizations such as Chamber of Commerce and Greater Salisbury Committee.
• Explore feasibility of expansion and consolidation of police substation(s).
• Utilize Mobile Substation throughout areas of the city to increase effective police community relations.
C. Promote Efficiency and Effectiveness within City Government
• Maintain, review, and update compliance standards as promulgated by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement along with Salisbury Police Department Directives.
• Specialized squads to address specific needs of the community such as traffic squad and special operations.
• Continue to assess effectiveness of Red Light Camera Program.
• Coordinate solutions to issues and concerns that, although not our responsibility, are observed or reported by/to the Police Department.
D. Reduce Cost of City Government
• Explore feasibility of implementing automated speed enforcement program.
• Fund police/community programs with grant funding.
• Continue development of programs to integrate police department technology with Wicomico County technology.
• Research and apply for grant funding for specific programs such as Homeland Security to reduce costs to the City.
• Implementation of an energy management program.
• Modification of City’s False Alarm Ordinance to affix responsibility to alarm companies and alarm owners.
3. Analysis of Activity and Accomplishments
A. The Criminal Division arrested a male subject and charged him with armed robbery, robbery, 1st & 2nd degree assault, reckless endangerment, theft plus $500, and handgun use in felony crime for an incident that occurred July 16, 2004 in the 2700 block of North Salisbury Boulevard.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with theft less $500, theft plus $500, theft scheme $500 plus and fraud-per indent info theft for an incident that occurred on September 25, 2003 in the 2300 block of North Salisbury Boulevard.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with armed robbery, robbery, first & second degree assault, reckless endangerment, concealed deadly weapon, theft over $500 and theft under $500 for an incident that occurred on August 24, 2004 at First Choice Auto Sales, 1200 N. Salisbury Boulevard.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with robbery, 1st & 2nd degree assault and theft less $500 for an incident that occurred on August 23, 2004 at the Thrift Travel Inn, 603 North Salisbury Boulevard.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with burglary 1st & 4th degree, 1st & 2nd degree assault, robbery, theft less $500 for an incident that occurred on August 21, 2004 in the 100 block of Union Avenue.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with 2nd degree rape, 2nd degree child abuse, 1st & 2nd degree assault, reckless endangerment, 3rd degree sex offense, sex abuse-minor(2 counts) for an incident that occurred on June 8, 2004 in the 300 block of Martin Street.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with assault first and second degree, reckless endangerment, deadly weapon with intent to injure for an incident that occurred on September 15, 2004 underneath the overhead bridge on Division Street.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with first and second degree assault and reckless endangerment for an incident that occurred on August 19, 2004 at the Shore Stop, 1020 Eastern Shore Drive.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with 2nd degree burglary, 4th degree burglary, theft $500 plus, Malicious Destruction of Property and trespass; private property for an incident that occurred August 2, 2004 at 636 S. Salisbury Boulevard.
B. The Police Department assisted with traffic and/or crowd control while covering special events during the quarter.
• Traffic/crowd control for Jaycees Fireworks
• Traffic/crowd control for Riverfest
C. Crime Prevention/Community Affairs Unit
Current Concerns Voiced By The Community:
• Concerns about the homeless sleeping/loitering under the Rt. 50 drawbridge and urinating/defecating in the area.
Potential Problems That Have A Bearing On The Law Enforcement Activities Within The Community:
• There is an increase of counterfeit U.S. currency being disseminated throughout the community.
Recommended Actions That Address Previously Identified Concerns And Problems:
• The State Highway Administration has been contacted in reference to the possibility of posting state property to prohibit trespassing and/or loitering.
Progress Made toward Addressing Previously Identified Concerns And Problems:
• The Salisbury Police has increased patrols in the Isabella Street area in response to complaints of increased traffic in the neighborhood.
• A Special Operations Unit has been established to target street level narcotics dealers and other vice crimes.
The Crime Prevention/Community Affairs Unit was again active this quarter in the following areas:
• The Telephone Reassurance Program continues to be an asset for fifteen (15) of Salisbury’s senior citizens. Volunteers call these registered seniors who are alone and/or in poor health. These seniors look forward to their daily call and the volunteers are dedicated to letting these people know that we care about their well-being and safety.
• The Community Interactive Network (CIIN) has ninety-nine(99) participants. This network was updated in September 2004. This crime prevention tool makes citizens aware of crime trends and provides information of when and where it is occurring as well as giving prevention tips.
• Twelve children were involved in the Earn-A-Bike program during the summer break. Participants earned a bicycle and community service hours.
• The Auxiliary Officers volunteered one hundred-two (102) hours this quarter. This is a combined effort of the Patrol and Mounted Auxiliary Officers. They assisted this agency with vehicular, foot and mounted patrols in shopping and high crime areas of the City. They are very instrumental in traffic direction at special events.
Community Affairs Officers Participated In The Following Special Events:
• Home Security Surveys - 3
• Business Security Surveys -1
• Operation I.D. - 11
• Neighborhood Watch Meetings - 2
• Bike Registrations - 14
• Drug and Safety Presentations - 2
• Tours of Police Department -2
• Kid-I-Dent (fingerprinting) - approximately 80 children
D. During this quarter the Community Oriented Policing Unit (COPP) supported the newly formed Special Operations Squad execute one covert prostitution sting that led to arrests and criminal charges being placed against three adult females. Additionally during this quarter the Community Oriented Policing Unit supported the Special Operations Squad execute covert controlled dangerous substance operations within the C-SAFE, Weed & Seed, and surrounding areas. These operations consisted of surveillance/bust operations and controlled buys. Further investigation concerning the specifics of this activity is on-going. The expected results will include but will not be limited to the execution of search & seizure warrants, controlled dangerous substance seizures and multiple arrests. Specifics will be released at a future date. The agency’s Community Policing Unit continues to make arrests for street level narcotics activity and other “quality of life violations.” The unit also participated in “National Night Out”, a community outreach event held on the Westside of Salisbury. The unit also attended numerous community meetings throughout the city to discuss neighborhood problem-solving ideas. Our agency’s successes can be attributed to the continued ability of the Community Oriented Policing Unit and Special Operations Squad to remain flexible and react swiftly to activity while remaining as visible to the public as possible. We also attend all community and HEAT team meetings, fostering teamwork and the sharing of critical information.
During this quarter Weed and Seed activities included:
• 29 Calls for Service
• 8 Arrests
• 23 Motor Vehicle Warnings
• 27 FIR
• 20 Motor Vehicle Citations
• 3 Parking Citations
• 340 Community Contacts
• 20 Business Checks
Statement of Problems and Corrective Action
All known problems which were encountered have been reported through normal channels.
Statistics
A. Criminal Activity
1. Offenses Known and Reported
These are Part I crime classes of the Uniform Crime Classification. All other crimes and offenses are reported under Part II classes. No "offense known" information is collected for Part II classes, only arrest information.
Murder 1
Rape 3
Robbery 30
Assault 234
Breaking and Entering 128
Theft 439
Motor Vehicle Theft 35
2. Number of Persons Arrested for Criminal Offenses
These statistics show the number of adult persons arrested for both Part I and Part II criminal classifications.
Murder 0
Rape 1
Robbery 7
Breaking and Entering 12
Theft 110
Motor Vehicle Theft 6
Assault 75
Forgery 4
Fraud 3
Vandalism 19
Drugs 38
Concealed Weapon 2
Offenses Against Family 2
Liquor Laws 8
Drunk Driving 24
Disorderly Conduct 13
Arson 0
All Others 171
3. Juveniles Taken Into Custody 125
4. Arrested For Other Jurisdictions 21
5. Field Interviews of Suspicious Persons 1,337
B. Traffic Activity
1. Accidents Investigated
Total Number Reported 578
Injury Accidents 91
Hit and Run 127
Fatal Accidents 1
2. Traffic Arrests
Reckless/Negligent Driving 28
Red Light 61
Right of Way 35
Speeding 368
Stop Sign 40
Miscellaneous, Moving Violations 90
Fail to Stop at Accidents 32
License Violations 195
Seat Belts 220
Registration 242
Revoked/Suspended License 140
Tampering 0
Miscellaneous, Non-Moving Violations 93
3. Warnings Issued 1,599
C. Miscellaneous Services
Services Answered by Patrol Cars 10,670
Non Criminal Complaints Investigated 5,780
Fire Department Assistance 25
Alarms 581
Doors Found Open 47
Fires Discovered 3
Escorts Provided 213
Sudden Deaths Investigated 3
Suicides/Attempted Suicides 13
Bomb Incidents 4
D. Animal Control Agency
Calls for Service 327
Impounded Dogs 80
Impounded Cats 80
Dead Animals Picked Up 81
All Others 36