REGION - EAST CHICAGO STOP TEAM STATS

July 21, 2014

9:00am

Mark J. Becker, Chief of Police, today made the following announcement;

The total number of crimes for the first 6 months of 2014, as reported to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, totals 700 violent and property crimes for this period.  That total, in comparison for the first 6 months of 2013 (853 crimes), represents a decline of 18%.

East Chicago’s violent crime totals rose from 78 incidents to 109, however, the city did experience a decline of 50% in murders (6 to 3).  The city also experienced less property crimes, reporting a drop from 775 to 591 such crimes.  

Overall, East Chicago continues to experience an annual decline in total property and violent crime.

In 2012 the FBI UCR reported a decline in violent crime of 13% and reduction in property crime of 5%, or a total reduction of 6%.  At that time, the total crimes reported to the FBI for 2012 was the lowest in 12 years

In 2013 the FBI UCR reported a slight increase in violent crime of 2%, but a reduction in property crime of 6.5%, or a total reduction of 6%

The total crime reported to the FBI UCR program in 2013 totaled 1,957 crimes, the lowest ever reported by the city since at least 1995. Records prior to 1995 were not available for review

In 2014, for the first 6 months, the downward trend in overall crime continues and despite record low totals reported in 2013, this year is on course to record even lower totals than previously experienced

As of the end of 2013, since 2011, the city had reduced its overall crime reported to the FBI UCR by 11% and the numbers continue to decrease in 2014.  (Crime totals reported to the FBI in 2011 totaled 2,196 and in 2013 totaled 1,957)

All members of the department are to be commended for this continued reduction in crime.  The department will continue its strategic partnerships with Dr. Joseph Ferrandino, Indiana University Northwest Campus, as well as various Federal, State and local agencies.  We also will continue with the varied Community Outreach programs that have proven very successful in maintaining public safety in East Chicago.

The East Chicago STOP Team coupled with the Region STOP Team has both served to increase the police presence on our streets and the relationships they have forged with our community have assisted in building partnerships with our citizens and have encouraged their assistance in helping the officer s keep our community safe. 

Set forth below is breakdown of the crime reported to the FBI/UCR

Operation Stay Smart

PRESS

RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 8, 2014

Operation Stay Smart

       

Truancy Related

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Mark J. Becker, Chief of Police, today made the following announcement;

I am pleased to announce that the 2014-15 school year will find a newly developed strategy to deal with truancy in East Chicago., which we have dubbed “Operation Stay Smart”.  The concept is to stay in school, stay smart and realize your dreams.

For the past several months our officers have teamed with Mayor Anthony Copeland, City Attorney Carla Morgan, East Chicago City Judge Sonya A. Morris, Neighborhoods Inc., Calumet College of St. Joseph, Ivy Tech Community College, East Chicago School Superintendant Dr. Youssef Yomtoob and his staff of administrators and educators, as well as the Board of School Trustees, so as to develop a comprehensive plan to alleviate a growing truancy issue in our city.  These organizations have collaborated as the public safety committee for the Bridges of Care initiative, sponsored by the Foundations of East Chicago.

We continue to work with the School Board so as to develop a more comprehensive and specific definition as to what constitutes truancy, with plans for the City Attorney then to draft an ordinance that would provide our legal system with a mechanism to better hold our students and their parents accountable.  All of these efforts directed to increasing the likelihood that our classrooms are filled each and every day.

In the interim, Mayor Copeland has pledged overtime funding that will result in officers addressing truancy issues each week, which will include visits to the student’s homes and discussions with them and their parents as to returning them back to the classroom.  While it is not our intention to fine or prosecute parents when their children are chronically truant, it is certainly a distinct possibility in those cases in which parents cannot or will not make sure their children are attending school on a regular basis.

Effective immediately, after a fourth truant event, the school will contact the parent/guardian and direct that person meet with school officials so as to discuss those absences.  If the parent/guardian fails to present themselves for that discussion, that will prompt a visit by our officers.  Those visits will continue with every consecutive unexcused absence and if necessary, ensuing fines and criminal action will be pursued by our investigators.

Truancy is a challenge for cities throughout the United States and arguably it is one of the top problems facing communities across the Country.  Repeated absences fuel repeated failures on tests, which often leads to frustration and an increased reluctance by students to return to school.

We recognize that those not attending school are also at greater risk to engage in criminal activity, to include drug use, vandalism, graffiti, shoplifting/thefts and of course the opportunities to join gangs to fill their free time.  

This school year promises to be a special one for our students and our officers look forward to working with school officials and others listed in this release to keep our kids on the right path.

“A CITY OF HOPE AND PROGRESS”

Anthony Copeland Mayor