Official crime statistics for the first quarter of the year are out and, according to the numbers, Bonney Lake is safer than ever.
In all, crime is down 8.6 percent in the city and reductions were seen in all but a handful of categories compared with last year.
Offenses that have seen increases this year over 2010 include aggravated and simple assaults, forgery, car thefts and forcible sex offenses.
So far, there have been six aggravated and 26 simple assaults, up from 2 and 21, respectively. Vehicle thefts are up from six to 10 and forcible sex offense are up from two to three. The city has also seen an increase in counterfeiting/forgeries this year from five to 11, nearly half of 2010’s total of 24.
In all other categories, including drug offenses, the numbers show a decline in the past 12 months.
Police Chief Mike Mitchell said the numbers, especially those in the drug category, are due to proactive police work.
“I’d like to think we’ve made a statement to a lot of the criminals,” he said, adding that detectives tell him that suspects tell them “we know better than to come to Bonney Lake because you catch people up there.
“I like to think it’s a presence issue, visibility.”
Mitchell has been encouraged recently at community forums, he said, hearing from teens and other community members that they feel safe in the city.
“That’s what I strive for,” he said.
Crime Analyst Laura Miller said the numbers help the department see trends and/or spikes in any particular crime.
“In order to know what’s abnormal, we need to know what’s normal,” she said. “The numbers definitely tell us if we’re having any kind of crime trend.
“The numbers tell us if we’re starting to see a problem.”
The department can then use the numbers, and the associated geographical information, to know where officers may be needed.
“You’re not very effective if you’re all spread out looking for a needle in a haystack,” Miller said.
Mitchell said the statistics, which he gets every month, help him determine how to use his officers most effectively.
“It helps us focus our resources and use them efficiently,” he said. “Hopefully we’re working hard and working smart.”
