Bull City’s finest is working with other law enforcement groups and civilian crime prevention initiatives to make Durham a little safer.
During this past year, Durham Police Department recorded several positive trends in city crime. According to the 2010 DPD annual report, there was a 2 percent decrease in property crime last year as compared to 2009. There was, however, a 2 percent increase in violent crime from 2009.
In a statement accompanying the report, DPD Chief Jose Lopez said the index crime rate, which aggregates data for property and violent crimes per 100,000 people had also dropped 31 percent from 2001 to 2010.
Lt. Patrice Vickers, executive officer to the DPD police chief, added in an interview June 27 that last year’s slight increase in violent crime is not very significant, as the range of what is considered violent crime is anywhere from a minor aggravated assault to a robbery.
Clearance rates—the ratios of cases solved to the number of crimes reported—for most crimes remained relatively constant between 2009 and 2010. The clearance rate for homicide cases increased from 47.6 percent to 72 percent, meaning more homicides are being solved.
“We attribute much of this success to the hard work of our employees, economic development in the area and partnerships with the community and several city departments,” Lopez said.
The Bull’s Eye Initiative, which began in 2007, has proven to be one of the most effective programs in reducing and preventing crime. The initiative was created to reduce crime in a two-square mile area of Durham that accounted for much of the city’s gun crime, gun fire, drug arrests and prostitution. Since the start of the initiative, the target area has seen a 57 percent drop in violent gun crime.
In 2010, DPD also implemented a number of new measures in order to lower the city’s violent crime rates. Through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods group, the DPD began a Safety in Numbers campaign that provided Durham residents in 136 neighborhoods, 31 businesses, seven faith-based groups and 24 community organizations with a Community Safety Directory. The directories advise on safety precautions and crime prevention and were distributed to neighboorhood partners throughout Durham.
“The campaign urged residents to take a stand against gun crime and violence and encouraged them to become involved in anti-crime and mentoring activities,” Lopez said.
DPD also began a Violent Incident Response program, which identifies and monitors people or groups with a known capacity or tendency to commit violent crimes. The VIR gathers its information from DPD, the Department of Community Corrections and the Durham County District Attorney’s Office, Lopez noted.
DPD has also collaborated with the Partners Against Crime program, Vickers wrote in an email June 23. The PAC program has groups within each of Durham’s five police districts and brought together police officers, residents and city government officials to discuss strategies to reduce crime as well as identifying areas that require improvement. Vickers attributed improvements to city safety, in part, to the work of PAC and its relationship with the DPD.
“On a daily basis, we work directly with PAC in all of the districts in solving crime and quality of life issues,” Vickers said.
PAC representatives could not be reached for comment.
Partnerships with other law enforcement has also helped DPD keep Durham safe, Vickers said.
DUPD partners with DPD to address criminal activity. The two groups often work together to address the concerns and activities of students off campus, Duke Police Chief John Dailey said.
“We have daily meetings with [DPD] where we share information of incidents that impact campus,” he said. “Durham Police often alerts us to students needing assistance off campus—usually due to intoxication.”
DUPD also assists DPD in its work around the city, Dailey said. For example, the two forces joined in an effort called Operation Roundup to serve outstanding arrest warrants throughout the city June 21 and 22.
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