2002 Annual Report
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| 2002 Annual Report links Crime Stats | Mission | Contact Us |
Substance Abuse Becomes Community Concern
he Police Department is under the direction of Chief Douglas S. Hoyt and is staffed by 16 full time Law Enforcement Officers, 3 Community Service Officers, 7 E-911 Dispatches and 1 Administrative Secretary. The Police Department supports an active Bike Patrol Unit, School Resource Office and has taken a proactive approach towards Community policing. The Department is responsible for implementing the Washington County Youth Drinking Task Force.
The Montpelier Police Department's main focus is to provide for the safety and security of it's citizens. After three consecutive years of activity in excess of 17,000 incidents, the Department's level of overall activity decreased (16,510) and is the first drop in activity for at least the last 16 years.
2002 Review
The year 2002 was in many respects a year of contradictions based upon levels of activity. With the actual and perceived drug activity conventional wisdom states that crime should be up. At the beginning of the year that was evidently true with a rash of burglaries and thefts. Over the twelve months those particular crimes went down.
For 2002 the Part I Uniform Crime Report figures were statistically the same as 2001. As can be seen in the chart below the number of reported burglaries increased enough to offset the declines in several other categories.
Using another measure of crime, NIBRS, (National Incident Based Reporting System) there was a drop in the "A" Offenses of 5.6% and a drop of 27% in the "B" Offenses. This is the second consecutive year that this measure has declined. By way of explanation the "A" Offenses are the more serious offenses which are deemed to affect society and include the traditional Part I crimes as well as crimes of Fraud, Thefts of Service, Vandalism, and Threats, to name a few. The categories were established based on factors that have a greater impact on society. After the year 2004 the NIBRS reporting method will be in effect nationwide.
On an annual basis the Vermont Crime Information Center publishes a report titled Vermont Crime. For the year 1999 those rates were 47.82 for Part I crimes and 138.67 for Part II crimes. For the year 2000 those rates were 55.27 for Part I and 163.11 for Part II crimes. These rates reflected the increases that we experienced in 2000. For the year 2001 the rates were respectively 61.85 and 154.70 for Part I and Part II crimes.
A word of caution is in order on rates. Rates are influenced by many factors that have as much to do with demographics, economy, exterior influences and community activity. Even the estimated population, which changes from year to year can have an influence. Social factors such as community reporting based upon perceived police response and arrest rates and other interventions can have a profound effect on the rates.
Crime Stats
| UCR Reports | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
| Rape | 15 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| Robbery | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Aggrevated Assault |
9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 62 | 32 | 45 | 28 | 54 | 35 | 52 |
| Larceny | 376 | 322 | 397 | 344 | 348 | 418 | 403 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft |
30 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 16 |
| Arson | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 7 |
| Total Part I | 497 | 390 | 474 | 400 | 449 | 492 | 489 |
| Domestic Abuse |
130 | 100 | 105 | 119 | 117 | 87 | 58 |
| Total Activity |
17,401 | 16,510 | 15,585 | 15,549 | 16,965 | 16,038 | 15,786 |
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Robbery: forceably taking something from another Burglary: forceably entering into a building in which something is subject to theft Larceny: stealing |
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Over the last two years in our Annual Report we have noted the sudden and dramatic rise in drug offenses and arrests. This past year witnessed a much larger concern on the part of the community for the use of heroin. Its obvious appearance in the community was sudden with all of its negative effects. For the years of 2001and 2002 the number of reported offenses and arrests declined significantly.
A successful community wide meeting has laid the foundation for increased community participation in seeking positive responses to all of the factors associated with all substance abuse. The police department will pledge to work with all of those in the community and endorses an effort that promotes education, intervention (enforcement) and treatment of persons with substance abuse problems.
Last year at this time the Department reported that at one point during 2001 there were 25% fewer officers due to vacancies. We noted that the vacancy rate was high for agencies all across the country. Currently the Vermont State Police have in excess of 40 vacancies. The competition for a limited number of persons in a job market that had historical low unemployment rates and high salaries and benefits were remarkable. We believe that with aggressive recruiting and selection, combined with significant advances in compensation packages, the City can compete with but a few of organizations on a state wide level and even be competitive in New England. The year 2003 will more than likely create a couple of vacancies and the department is prepared to fill them as soon as possible.
More than one-third of the department has less than two year of experience. As those new officers' experience level increases so will all the other measurements that lead to a quality service being delivered to the community.
Any report on the department would be lacking if it did not include some information on the dispatcher function. As a work group they have completed the fourth year as an E-911 PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). Each dispatcher has achieved certification for E-911 activity that meets EMT-D (Emergency Medical Technician-Dispatcher) status.
Not only have they routed the 15,786 incidents mentioned above, they have managed an additional 4,459 calls related to EMS and fire departments. It is impressive to watch the dispatcher multi-task an emergency and often provide pre-arrival medical aid to not only the citizens of Montpelier but to those in 14 surrounding communities. In conjunction with all of the related matters in dispatching, there are inquiries made into different data bases such as motor vehicle files, and NCIC checks. During 2002 the dispatchers made in excess of 110,000 such transactions which averages to one transaction every four and three-quarter minutes. A job well done.
The grant for the School Resource Officer grant through the US Department of Justice ended in December 2002. This three-year $124,000 grant provided funding for an officer to work with the schools. This partnership with the school district has provided many rewards in terms of dealing with potentially violent and other disruptive issues on a calm basis rather than disrupting school or having this issue continue out into the community. The reverse is also true in that issues entering the school buildings are reduced. We believe that there is a significant benefit in that the number of juveniles having to be arrested continues to decline.
The City and the School District have agreed to jointly fund this activity in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget based on the multiple benefits that it brings to the community. Our collective missions to provide a safe environment dictate that we work cooperatively on this initiative.
Mission Statement
The ultimate responsibility for peace, good order, and law enforcement rests with the community of citizens in a democratic society. The complexity of modern society dictates that police efforts must be coordinated and directed by the services of law enforcement professionals.
Therefore, the Montpelier Police Department will be devoted to providing professional and quality police services, and will strive to remain effective, efficient, and responsive to the changing needs of our community while providing a safe environment that enhances the quality of life in Montpelier.
We look forward to the continuing challenges that are ahead of us and we are especially pleased that we have been able to form continued partnerships with the community that we serve.
Contact Us
| Police Department Montpelier City Hall 1 Pitkin Court Montpelier, VT 05602-2950 (802) 223-3445 FAX (802) 223-9518 Website: http://www.montpelier-vt.org/police/index.cfm |
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