Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre questioned the methods used to account for the $1.374 million in property stolen in 2006. “We had a large number of larcenies,” including shoplifting, stolen bicycles and other means of theft, said Chief MacKinnon. “The good news is that we recovered” $441,539 of stolen property.Vice Mayor John Procter noted that an increase in Part an II crime is often attributable to “an increase in activity in spotting these people” who are committing such crimes. Chief MacKinnon said that the 19.35 percent increase in arrests for drunk driving is also “a positive... we’re getting more off the street.”Last year the SPPD had 1,297 calls for service compared to 1,050 in 2005.
Part 2 crimes: Officer-initiated activity up 23.5 percent City Council learns
April 04, 2007
Santa Paula City Council
Sometimes more crime is good news: Santa Paula Police Officer-initiated incidents led to a 23.5 percent increase in Part II crimes during 2006, the City Council learned at the March 12 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSometimes more crime is good news: Santa Paula Police Officer-initiated incidents led to a 23.5 percent increase in Part II crimes during 2006, the City Council learned at the March 12 meeting.Part II offenses include incidents of recovered and possession of stolen property (24 incidents in 2006, a 140 percent increase from 2005’s 10 incidents), narcotics/drugs violations (a 7.2 percent decrease year-over-year from 357 incidents to 333), weapon violations (90 last year compared to 87 in 2005, a 3.4 percent increase), warrant arrests (a 16.4 percent decrease with 232 in 2006 and 270 in 2005), drunk driving (a 19.35 percent jump with 111 arrests in 2006 compared to 93 in 2005), drunk in public (100 percent increase year-over-year from 24 to 48 arrests), liquor law violations (jumping 75.75 percent with 58 citations last year compared to 33 in 2005), and misdemeanor traffic violations (up 127.8 percent with 401 citations last year compared to 176 in 2005).“There was a significant increase in Part II crimes” overall by 23.52 percent, showing that Santa Paula Police Department officers are “very active on the street,” said Chief Steve MacKinnon. But the activity must be balanced out: “We haven’t increased our staffing at all,” but the rise in incidents shows the commitment of the officers on the street, he noted. Chief MacKinnon said that two SPPD officers would become certified crime prevention officers, and that the increase in traffic enforcement showed the strongest gain.
