Reports of crime decrease despite fewer police officers

A suspected thief said criminals like Austintown.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The number of crimes reported in the township has decreased dramatically this year, even though fewer police officers are on patrol now than in the past.
Police department monthly statistics show that the number of crimes reported between April and October decreased 34 percent when compared with the same period last year. The number of arrests also dropped 21 percent, and calls to police decreased 14 percent.
Township trustees reduced the number of patrol officers working each shift from six to five beginning in March in an effort to save money. Trustees also said that officers should no longer work overtime to ensure that five officers are on patrol each shift.
As a result, there have been occasions when only four officers have been on patrol because the fifth officer supposed to be on duty is sick or on vacation.
Austintown, Youngstown preferred
A teen suspected of stealing car stereos recently told police that thieves favor Austintown and Youngstown over Boardman because their are fewer police in Austintown and Youngstown.
Police Chief Gordon Ellis said the crime statistics change every year, and it's difficult to find a reason for the fluctuation. He also cautioned that the statistics do not show the seriousness of the crimes reported.
Ellis noted that even though crime appears to have decreased, police have been busier this year as opposed to last year because of the reduction in the number of officers on patrol.
Since April, each officer has been asked to respond to an average of 4.45 calls per shift, according to police monthly reports. During the same period last year, officers responded to an average of 4.35 calls per shift.
Response time
Ellis added that response time has been affected because there have been fewer officers on duty when several calls come in at once. He stressed that life-threatening calls take priority.
Police also haven't been able to deter crime through surveillance and other proactive methods because of the lack of officers on patrol, Ellis said.
"We are unable to provide the level of coverage we once did," he said. "We assume that those who commit crimes are aware of this."
Township officials have said they're facing a deficit this year because of increases in the cost of insurance, workers' compensation and wages and decreases in revenue. Trustees have laid off two police officers and chosen not to replace four officers who retired.
Earlier this month, voters rejected a 2.5-mill levy that would have created $1.4 million annually for police.
hill@vindy.com