Reported crime in Pine Bluff down in July

For the seventh straight month, reported crime went down in Pine Bluff, according to a report prepared by the Pine Bluff Police Department this week.

The monthly report showed there were 462 crimes reported last month, 128 fewer than for the same period in 2011, or a decrease of 21.69 percent.

Through the first seven months of the year, crime is down 11.86 percent in Pine Bluff when compared to the same period in 2011.

Capt. Greg Shapiro, police spokesman, said a significant drop like the one recorded last month “has not been seen since October 2009 when crime dropped 36.33 percent.”

Shapiro also said reported crime in Pine Bluff has continued to drop since August 2009.

Property crimes, particularly burglaries, went down significantly last month compared to a year ago.

Burglaries decreased from 169 in July 2011 to 77 last month, while reported thefts went from 205 last year to 178 last month.

July was the first month in the last three that reported burglaries fell below the 100 mark but so far this year, there have been 288 fewer burglaries reported than for the same period in 2011, and 55 fewer thefts.

There were six fewer auto thefts reported (18) in July than for the same period last year, and for the year, 100 auto thefts have been reported, that’s 50 less than for the first seven months of 2011.

There was one homicide reported in July, the same as a year ago. Police department figures show 12 homicides for this year but figures kept by The Commercial list the number as 13. The apparent difference is that the department lists one homicide in January while according to Commercial figures, there were two, Tommy Holcomb Sr., on Jan. 11 and Christopher Patillo on Jan. 19. Holcomb’s death was classified as justifiable homicide by prosecutors.

Aggravated assaults declined from 51 in July 2011 to 36 last month while simple assaults increased by nine from 128 to 137.

There were five rapes or attempted rapes last month, the same as were reported in July 2011. Reported robberies last month doubled from a year ago, going from five in 2011 to 10 last month, and Shapiro said several of those robberies were of individuals who were out at 2 and 3 a.m.

“They were not at businesses and they were not out walking for exercise,” he said.

Shapiro said one statistic that was noticeable is that alarm calls are down over 600 calls compared to 2011.

“This is a direct result of the City Ordinance on false alarms,” he said. “Our response times have improved and our availability work proactively has increased.”

Shapiro said the department has also reinstituted the bike patrol program and “these motivated officers are committed to our Community Oriented Policing Concept.

“Our employees are working very hard and we are proud of these numbers,” Shapiro said.

In a related matter, Shapiro said the department currently has three vacancies they are looking to fill, in addition to adding four officers who will be paid by a federal grant. Those individuals must be veterans.

He said there are currently 21 people in the background process for those positions.

That process includes checking an applicant for warrants or felony convictions, followed by a computer test.

For those scoring 70 and above on the test, they are scheduled for physical skills, fitness and agility test. If they pass those, they are fingerprinted and a background investigation begins, and if not disqualified, are scheduled for a polygraph, followed by an interview with the chief and a panel.

Those passing the interview have to have a medical physical, drug screen and a psychological exam by a licensed physician.