MPD reports crime down in 2012

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police report a dramatic decrease in serious crimes across the board in 2012.

New numbers released by the department indicate an 18.9 percent decrease in serious crimes.

According to the report, robberies fell by 27.8 percent in 2012 throughout the city. The department’s numbers also show burglaries fell by 31.1 percent.

“We’re seeing a downward trend in all of our Part 1 crime categories,” said Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams. “The most violent crimes that we have are robberies, rapes, homicides.”

Police department statistics show crime is down in all precincts.

Many citizens, however, have taken to social media sites like Facebook, to express their skepticism.

Chief Williams said it’s a matter of perception and claims his department has made more of an effort to make crime known to the public over the past year.

“You know, one of the things that we started doing, and we try to put it before the media, is that we walk a lot of people out the back door of headquarters and take them to jail. We put a lot of people in shackles and handcuffs as a message.”

The chief credits the teen curfew for helping curb crime, specifically burglaries. According to his records, 546 youths were caught violating the curfew, 145 of whom were caught during school hours.

Chief Williams also credits Operation impact, the department’s focus on ‘crime mapping,’ and good old fashion police work for the downward trend.

“We responded to 274,000 calls last year. That’s more than 750 calls per day,” said the chief. “These police officers work hard.”

In total for violate and non-violate crimes, the chief said his officers made 18,260 arrests in 2012; up from 16,768 arrests in 2011.

Chief Williams told FOX10 he believes more arrests mean less crime.

Police officials said they have double-checked the numbers, which have been sent to the FBI.