Reported crime in the city of Pine Bluff declined more than 6.8 percent last year compared to the previous year, according to statistics compiled by the Pine Bluff Police Department.
The department report showed there were 6,117 crimes in 2010, compared to 5,700 last year, a difference of 417.
“Unlike what people would think, we didn’t end the year with an increase in crime, we ended the year with a reduction of 6.82 percent in crime,” Chief Brenda Davis-Jones said during a meeting of the Pine Bluff City Council Tuesday night. “Our aggravated assaults were down almost 15 percent, our rapes were down 10 percent, armed robberies were down 12 percent.”
Specifically, there were 451 aggravated assaults reported in 2011, 17 less than were reported in 2010. Forty-seven rapes or attempted rapes were reported, eight less than a year ago, and 154 robberies in 2011 — 18 fewer than in 2010. Simple assaults also declined, going from 2,015 in 2010 to 1,520 last year, a decrease of 215.
“All of our increases that we had were in homicides, but overall, our crimes against persons were a hugh reduction, so that let’s you know that Pine Bluff is a safe place to be,” Davis-Jones said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
While the department report showed 14 murders in 2011, figures compiled by The Commercial indicate there were 17 homicides inside the city limits.
Not included in the department report is the Jan. 22 shooting death of Timothy Reed which was ruled justifiable homicide by prosecutors, the April 19 shooting death of Kadedra Washington which resulted in manslaughter charges being filed against Kenneth Ray Burton, and the Oct. 28 death of Willie B. Young, who was struck by a vehicle that left the scene.
In those three cases, the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death was homicide.
Crimes against property, specifically burglaries and thefts increased last year, compared to 2010, according to the department report.
There were 1,568 burglaries last year, compared to 1,374 in 2010, an increase of 194 or 14.12 percent more, while thefts increased from 2,015 in 2010 to 2,190 last year, or 175 more. Reported auto thefts went down from 290 in 2010 to 242 last year.
“We’ve had some trying times in Pine Bluff this year but I’m poud to say that as a community, we have worked together, as a police department we have worked together to accomplish the big thing we have here, which is crime,” Davis-Jones said. “For the month of December, we had a 10.83 (percent) reduction in crime and that’s outstanding, because we had a good year last year, so if you see your police officers, you should say, ‘thank you very much.’ They have worked so hard to make that happen.”
Asked by Alderman Bill Brumett if the specific areas of increase — homicides, burglaries and thefts — were a reflection of national trends, Davis-Jones said yes.