Elkin recorded a 9.2% drop in Index Offenses from 2011, according to the final report from the Elkin Police Department.
The release provides The Tribune with an overall snapshot of the department’s activities and practices and spending.
The Crime Index total is the sum of selected offenses used to measure crime rates and their fluctuations, since they’re most likely to be reported or happen with significant frequency to provide an adequate basis for comparison. The offenses included in the Crime Index total are the violent crimes of Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter, Forcible Rape, Robbery, and Aggravated Assault, and the property crimes of Burglary, Larceny-theft, and Motor Vehicle Theft.
Officers per 1,000 residents is 3.77.
There were five total uses of force, which is defined by Elkin Police Capt. Chris Leonard as any force that’s used against a subject to maintain to comply.
“It can also mean force used to bring down a deer,” said Captain Leonard who recognized that the overall number is very low. “What assist that is proper training for the officers, a good policy, giving the officer options, and in some cases, force has to be used.”
Internal affairs reviewed six investigations of alleged wrongdoing within the department; three were unfounded, two were sustained, and one officer was exonerated.
Each officer was tracked based on their activity; incident reports criminal papers served, arrests, foot patrols, citations, verbal warnings, written warnings, and security checks. The officer who recorded the highest activity is Joey Johnson.
Sgt. Mindy Peles from the Criminal Investigation Division had the highest closure rate of assigned cases at 93%.
A total of 2,410 vehicle stops were made in Elkin. In 57.23% of all stops, the driver did not receive a citation. Atotal of 1,031 resulted in a citation. A total of 1,048 received a verbal warning, and 331 were issued a written warning.
Police responded to 315 traffic accidents.
As shown in the report, the budget appropriation for police administration is $1,174,142. A total of $989,176 was dedicated to personnel, $58,016 for capital outlay, and $126,950 for operating expenses.
Twenty-one employees and nine auxiliary comprise of the Elkin Police Department. Seventeen employees are sworn officers, and four are civilians.
“A tradition of efficient, courteous service to the community has been the hallmark of the Elkin Police Department since its inception in 1889,” wrote Chief of Police Monroe Wagoner in the report. “The police department hopes to enhance the public’s knowledge of police operations and to make the police department a more open and accessible entity.”
Many factors influence the need for police staffing; major highway arteries, retail and other commercial development, and proximity to larger cities often increase the demand for police services.
A total of 34,174 total doses were collected through Operation: Medicine Drop, a no-questions-asked approach to dropping off unused, and in some cases, the unauthorized possession of prescription medicines.
“We do not allow syringes to be dropped off,” mentioned Captain Leonard.
When asked to critique the department and discuss areas needing improvement, Captain Leonard indicated that the department is constantly evaluating.
“We’re always evaluating ways that we can better serve the public…each year it changes and we don’t know if that means more or less traffic stops, less accidents, but much may be beyond our control, ” said Captain Leonard. “We just know that each and every day we constantly evaluate the needs of the public.”
The department has 0 cold cases.
For 2012, police were dispatched for service a total of 12,369 times.
Sgt. Peles was recognized as Employee of the Year.
Elkin Police Corporal Scott Sanders is mentioned in the report as being deployed to the Middle East in June of 2012. Sanders serves in the North Carolina National Guard as a staff sergeant. Sanders is considered a “vital member of the team,” says the report.
Reach Anthony Gonzalez by calling 835-1513 or by email at agonzalez@civitasmedia.com.
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