January 17,2015
Watching Effect of Prop 47
Crime fell big time in Visalia in 2014 in comparison to some of the other towns where the bad guys were busier.
Total crime event recorded in 2014 numbered 5506 in 2014 compared to 6579 through all of 2013 – a 16 percent decline. In 2012 the same number was 7363.
The two year decline in total crime in Visalia is around 25 percent.
In 2013 robberies fell from 157 to 138 in 2014. Burglaries dropped from 1218 to 783. Larceny fell from 3036 to 2452. Rape cases also were lower from 29 to 28. There were 44 in 2012.
Motor vehicle theft in 2014 was a big number – 2452. But it was bigger in 2013 at 3017.
Homicides in 2014 were 9 compared to 9 in all of 2013.
Steve Nelsen said “it speaks volumes not only the job our police chef Colleen Mestas is doing but how the city council has prioritized public safety in Visalia.” Nelsen added the citizens have supported funding for extra police officers over the years through Measure T.
“Clearly, we are on the right path.”
Speaking for the police Captain Rick Haskill says the department is of course responsive to what is happening out in the community but in the case of some crimes, like property, he credits the improving economy for the better numbers.
(Unfortunately chief Mestas announced her retirement this week due to cancer.)
Haskill says sworn positions in Visalia have grown from 133 to 140 over the past two years.
Prop 47 Effect?
As for the effect of the passage of Proposition 47 passed in November with the release of thousands of nonviolent, non sex-offending criminals from state as well as the reclassification some property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors – the impact on Tulare County is worth looking at.
Fresno County authorities have blamed Prop 47 for an uptick in their burglaries in December.
There were spikes in December in burglaries in Visalia compared to the rest of the year as well as in car thefts. Burglaries were averaging around 70 each month but spiked to 87 in December. However it might be a Christmas effect since in December 2013 Visalia saw 116 cases.
But comparing December 2013 to December 2014,vehicle thefts went from 54 to 68,larceny from 215 to 252 and assault also climbed from December 2013 – December 2104 from 99 to 127.
That is not a good trend despite the better yearly figures. An analysis of who did the crime would be interesting.
Still by comparison to Visalia – LA recently reported the news for 2014 was far worse.
The LA Times reported “Los Angeles Police Department statistics released Monday show violent crime was up 14.3% last year compared with 2013, driven by a spike in aggravated assaults, which increased 28.3%. Homicides and robberies were up slightly, and the number of rapes climbed nearly 21%.”
Despite Visalia’s better numbers – this week’s shooting at a gas station shows we have a long way to go.