By Anna Geannopoulos
After his first full year as Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Chief, Willie C. Lovett was proud to report major decreases in crime, but he was quick to note that this was a team effort.
“This is not something the head of the department did. There was a strong supporting cast,” said Lovett at the beginning of his Jan. 11 press conference.
He stood at the podium but made sure each precinct captain sat around the large round table in front of him during the presentation.
According to a statement issued by the SCMPD, in 2010 the total number of crimes decreased by 15 percent and violent crimes by 25 percent. Homicides, the hardest crime to prevent, decreased 33 percent, rapes decreased 30 percent and robberies decreased 29 percent. Additionally, aggravated assaults were down 17 percent, burglaries down 4 percent, thefts by 12 percent and auto thefts were down 45 percent.
That last statistic should come as welcome news to car owners at SCAD who may be sick of hearing about break-ins. After slide show of how each precinct’s statistics broke down, (the downtown area had the highest decrease in crime and the islands had the least) Lovett opened the floor up for questions.
The only slight tinge of resentment came when asked if budget problems have affected the department. He admitted it is something they had to deal with last year, and will continue to deal with this year.
Lovett expressed concern about repeat offenders that are let out early because the jails can’t afford to keep them for their full sentence.
“The challenge comes because we continues to arrest the same people over and over again,” said Lovett.
But he is happy about the improved relationship between the police and community, saying that the more comfortable residents are with police, the easier it is to fight crime.
“We can’t live on what we did last year,” said Lovett, and emphasized that this year the police department wants to focus on the areas they didn’t do so well on last year.
To view the slide show presented at the press conference, click here .