South Lake Tahoe Police Chief: Violent crime down 3%

Good News…Crime for 2014 is down!

Police officials recently completed the official Uniform Crime Report for 2014. Overall, the “part 1” violent and property crimes are down.

Here are some details comparing 2013 and 2014:

Violent Crime - the first column of numbers is for 2013, second is for2014

Homicide ..........3..........0

Forcible Rape..........8..........14

Robbery..........16..........21

Aggravated Assault..........89..........77

Violent Crime Total..........116..........112..........Down 3.4%

Property Crime

Burglary..........171..........147

Larceny..........368..........332

Motor Vehicle Theft..........46..........37

Property Crime Total..........585..........516..........Down 11.8%

During 2014, your police department focused attention on habitual, repeat offenders and drug related crime.

This work included:
Felony Drug Arrests..........67
Illegal Marijuana Grows..........24
Habitual Offender Arrests..........56

These efforts appear to have had a positive influence on crime; however, it is important to recognize that crime rates are heavily influenced by many factors (such as overall economy, demographic change, etc.).

So, why are crime rates important? Crime rates are always considered an important factor for publications like, “best places rated” (to live, visit, retire, etc). When crime is a problem, community attractiveness suffers. While this is a critical factor for South Lake Tahoe as a tourist destination, crime rates are important for all of us to feel secure. High crime rates affect things like insurance costs and can have a devastating effect on the overall economy.

I am hopeful that next year we will see a continuing downward turn in crime. The effects of Proposition 47 (e.g. lowering crimes from felonies to misdemeanors and letting criminals out of prisons) may make this prospect difficult. Given this challenge, your police department has plans to focus resources to counteract these negative effects.