The Carson City Sheriff has received its preliminary crime data for the calendar year of 2013. The data, known as Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), is collected under precise standards and reported by agencies across the United States. In return, the information is shared in publications such as Crime and Justice in Nevada, published in the summer months by the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Caution should remain when comparing data from one community to another, as numerous variations must be considered which could alter assumptions.
Carson City is expected to record its best year, with the lowest crime index since 1994. The “Crime Index”, measuring the number of major crime events (homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, assault, etc.), came in with less than 1,700 events; this represents an 11% decrease from the year 2012, and a 14% decrease from the year 2011. As it relates to the categories of lesser serious crime (Fraud, Embezzlement, Vandalism, sex offenses, etc.), similar achievements were recorded; there were just over 1,800 events recorded, 13% fewer than in 2012, and 6% fewer than in 2011. The significance to the year-end preliminary reporting suggests that 2013 will likely mark the lowest community “Crime Rate” (total number of incidents to the population base) in comparison to all other years since 1994. There are no collective UCR publications prior to 1994.
There are several key impacting factors to the crime occurrence rates, most notably the incidences of drug and alcohol abuse. Aggressive enforcement, aligned with effective rehabilitative resources and community wide participation are significant to the reductions in crime. Overall, Carson City residents and businesses are quick to assist officers responding to incidents. The rapid and accurate retrieval of suspect information has allowed Detectives and Deputies alike to achieve excellent crime resolution rates and recovered property. Directly related, the Sheriff’s Office reported nearly $1.3 million dollars in stolen property for the year; the 2013 losses were 30% below 2012, and 40% less than in 2011. Since these losses are most frequently associated with our businesses and residences, the reductions advantage well for us all.
While we look forward to 2014 to achieve even greater results, the Sheriff’s Office continues to place a high priority on drug enforcement, gang activity, the welfare of our students in schools, and traffic accidents. On January 8th, the Sheriff and his staff met with Carson City School District officials and several school Principals to discuss patrol officer adjustments initiated for the second school semester. The discussion, led by Superintendent Richard Stokes and Sheriff Furlong, introduced the Principals of Carson High, Pioneer High, Eagle Valley Middle School, and Carson Middle Schools to a cadre of officers. The Sheriff explained that the Deputy Sheriff’s had volunteered to engage in a (pilot) School Resource Officer program that Sheriff Furlong and Mr. Stokes hopes will eventually lead to a full-time program by the time the next school year begins.
With 2014 now well underway, Sheriff Ken Furlong encourages everyone in Carson City to keep up the efforts as we advance our quality of life. For all the greatness that we achieved in 2013, there is more to be done. Together, our children, schools, businesses, and residential zones will surely prosper throughout the new year.