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
• Identify crime trends and patterns, then deploy resources in a timely manner to address specific issues.
• Enhance involvement of Community Action Team (C.A.T.) with community associations to improve community quality of life issues.
• Focus efforts of Fugitive Warrant Task Force on reducing backlog of open warrants to decrease recidivism.
• Conduct feasibility study of neighborhoods to increase number of sub-stations.
B. Improve Customer Service
• Work with community and business leaders regularly to share information that affects the City of Salisbury.
• Improve personal day-to-day contacts between members of the Salisbury Police Department and the residents they serve.
• Develop policy and procedures that are directed at improving harmony with the community.
C. Promote Efficiency and Effectiveness within City Government
• Maintain and update compliance standards as promulgated by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement.
• Conduct periodic audits of Department procedures to ascertain if they are effective in improving the overall operation of the Department.
• Work with other City departments in joint operations to provide a high quality of service to the citizens of Salisbury.
D. Reduce Cost of City Government
• Continue to coordinate efforts with State’s Attorney’s Office to monitor overtime expenditures for court appearances.
• Review contractual agreements with vendors to minimize costs to the City.
• Utilize monies from seized drug assets to form community based programs, reducing costs to the City.
3. Analysis of Activity and Accomplishments
A. The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment for an incident that occurred on August 9, 2003 in the 1000 block of E. Church Street.
The Criminal Division arrested two female juveniles and charged them with attempted first-degree murder for an incident that occurred on July 22, 2003 in the area of E. Railroad Avenue and Anne Street.
The Criminal Division arrested two adult males and charged them each with armed robbery, assault, possession of a deadly weapon for an incident that occurred on July 21, 2003 at the Elk’s Lodge on Catherine Street.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with burglary 2nd, 3rd, & 4th degree, trespassing, two counts of animal cruelty, malicious destruction of property and mutilation of an animal for an incident that occurred on August 29, 2003 at the Salisbury Zoo.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with burglary 1st, 3rd & 4th degree, malicious destruction of property, two counts of theft less $500 and theft scheme for an incident that occurred on June 17, 2003 on Light Street.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, handgun on person, two counts of theft less $500 and burglary 2nd and 4th degree for an incident that occurred on June 15, 2003 at Dayton’s Family Restaurant on Snow Hill Road.
The Criminal Division arrested one adult male and charged him with three counts of conspiracy armed robbery, three counts of conspiracy robbery, three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault and handgun in vehicle for an incident that occurred on April 4, 2003 in the 800 block of Priscilla Street.
The Criminal Division arrested three adult males and two adult females and charged them with theft plus $500, malicious destruction of property and rogue and vagabond for an incident that occurred on September 26, 2003 at the Best Western Hotel on North Salisbury Boulevard.
B. The Police Department assisted with traffic and/or crowd control while covering special events during the quarter.
• 4th of July fireworks traffic control
C. Crime Prevention/Community Affairs Unit
Current Concerns Voiced By The Community:
• Smith Street - concerns about increased number of loud parties.
• South Boulevard - concerns about increased number of loud parties.
• Church Street - concerns about the distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
Potential Problems That Have A Bearing On The Law Enforcement Activities Within The Community:
• The most recent problem bearing on the Salisbury Police Department is the increase in the number of vandalism incidents.
Recommended Actions That Address Previously Identified Concerns And Problems:
• The Salisbury Police Department will utilize overtime and regular patrol enforcement in the South Boulevard and Smith Street areas to reduce the number of calls for service. The Salisbury Police Department will increase patrols and conduct controlled dangerous substance operations in the Church Street area.
Progress Made toward Addressing Previously Identified Concerns And Problems:
• The Salisbury Police will increase patrols in the problem areas and send letters to the landlords/ managers of properties where loud parties/noise disturbances have been reported.
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 nineteen (19) 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-eight(98) participants. The Website has approximately one hundred and twenty (120) individuals making contact with web pages daily. These crime prevention methodologies reach the community by making the citizens aware of crime information when and where it counts.
• Eighteen children were involved in the Earn-A-Bike program during the summer break. Each participant earned a bicycle and community service hours towards graduation.
• The Auxiliary Officers volunteered one-hundred hours (100) this quarter. They assisted this agency with vehicular and foot patrols in the City’s parking lots. The Auxiliary Officers also assisted with the Telephone Reassurance by calling the registered seniors.
Community Affairs Officers Participated In The Following Special Events:
Home Security Surveys - 0
Business Security Surveys -0
Operation I.D. - 5
Neighborhood Crime Watch -5
Fingerprint Clinic - 40
Bike Safety - 0
Bike Registration - 10
Drug Prevention - 18
Tours of Police Department -20
Personal Safety - 10
Safety Presentations- 10
D. In July 2003, the Salisbury Police department conducted an undercover operation in the Church Street and Smith Street Weed and Seed areas. The operation targeted street level CDS activity and other quality of life issues. One subject was arrested and charged with various CDS violations. During the operation a major incident unrelated to the special assignment occurred. A first degree assault occurred the Church Street Weed and Seed area. Officers working the special assignment assisted the Criminal Division. Officers recovered the suspect’s motor vehicle, recovered a handgun connected to the assault and located the suspect connected with the assault.
In August, the Salisbury Police Department conducted a prostitution sting in the Church Street Weed and Seed area. As a result of the operation, 2 prostitution arrests and 1 CDS arrest were made.
In August, the Salisbury Police Department conducted a Buy-Bust operation in the Weed and Seed areas. As a result of that operation 6 arrests were made involving various CDS violations.
In August, the Salisbury Police Department conducted a prostitution sting in the Smith Street Weed and Seed area. As a result of that operation 4 prostitution arrests were made.
In September 2003, the Salisbury Police department worked in areas where college students reside, concentrating enforcement efforts for alcohol violations and loud parties. Officers issued 95 alcohol related citations during the month of September.
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 0
Rape 6
Robbery 29
Assault 269
Breaking and Entering 208
Larceny 506
Auto Larceny 34
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 2
Robbery 10
Breaking and Entering 23
Larceny 80
Motor Vehicle Theft 6
Assault 71
Forgery 2
Fraud 4
Vandalism 5
Drugs 59
Concealed Weapon 0
Offenses Against Family 7
Liquor Laws 9
Drunk Driving 19
Disorderly Conduct 2
Arson 0
All Others 192
3. Juveniles Taken Into Custody 156
4. Arrested For Other Jurisdictions 22
5. Field Interviews of Suspicious Persons 1257
B. Traffic Activity
1. Accidents Investigated
Total Number Reported 521
Injury Accidents 70
Hit and Run 110
Fatal Accidents 0
2. Traffic Arrests
Reckless/Negligent Driving 26
Red Light 43
Right of Way 40
Speeding 194
Stop Sign 24
Miscellaneous, Moving Violations 109
Fail to Stop at Accidents 30
License Violations 158
Seat Belts 78
Registration 118
Revoked/Suspended License 93
Tampering 0
Miscellaneous, Non Moving Violations 69
3. Warnings Issued 982
C. Miscellaneous Services
Services Answered by Patrol Cars 9163
Non Criminal Complaints Investigated 4355
Fire Department Assistance 43
Alarms 687
Doors Found Open 52
Fires Discovered 4
Escorts Provided 190
Sudden Deaths Investigated 11
Suicides/Attempted Suicides 7
Bomb Incidents 3
D. Animal Control Agency
Calls for Service 318
Impounded Dogs 86
Impounded Cats 48
Dead Animals Picked Up 37
All Others 38