Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 6, 2016

Southern Pines Police Department Announces 2015 Crime Reduction

January 6, 2016, Robert Temme, Chief of the Southern Pines Police Department announced continued reductions in crime during 2015. Throughout the year, the town of Southern Pines experienced a 13% decrease in Part 1 index crime. This builds on a 9% decrease in Part 1 index crime that occurred in 2014. Analyzing data compiled by the Southern Pines Police Department, which is reported to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, revealed that index crimes in 2015 were lower than the preceding twenty two (22) years dating back to 1993 (published data was not readily available prior to 1993). Index crimes are the eight crimes the FBI combines to produce its annual crime index. These offenses include Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Larceny, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson. In order to compare statistical information on a national basis, the FBI developed common definitions for crime comparison. The index seeks to overcome differences in individual state statutes that would ignore how the individual is charged, and create a standardized definition of crime classifications.

Chief Temme offered the following statement on the crime reduction - “I would like to personally thank the men and women of the Southern Pines Police Department, the community, and our local, federal and state partners for their strong and sustained efforts to reduce crime in Southern Pines. I believe that we can be a safer community by acknowledging our progress, building on it, and by doing more. Additionally, I would like to thank Mayor David McNeill, the Southern Pines Town Council, Town Manager Reagan Parsons and Assistant Town Manager Adam Lindsay for investing in, and supporting our strategy, especially in these difficult times when resources are challenging.”

The Southern Pines Police Department investigated five hundred twenty six (526) index crimes in 2015, which is the lowest number of index crimes reported in Southern Pines dating back to 1993. The highest number of index crimes reported since 1993 occurred in 1995 where there were a total of one thousand one hundred sixty one (1161) reported incidents. Comparing 1995 to 2015, there are six hundred thirty five (635) fewer victims of crime in 2015 than 1995, which represents a 54% decrease in index crime. The comparison of 2015 to the remaining twenty two (22) years prior to 2015 is equally impressive.

Chief Robert Temme accepted the position as Chief of the Southern Pines Police Department in April of 2013, at which time he implemented the CompStat model of policing. CompStat (short for COMPuter STATistics) is a combination of management philosophy and organizational management tools for police departments. It's a dynamic approach to crime reduction, quality of life improvement, and personnel and resource management, whereby ranking police department supervisors identify spikes in crimes using comparative statistics, and address those spikes through the use of targeted enforcement. The CompStat process, combined with the continued accreditation status from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has the entire staff of the Southern Pines Police Department confident and optimistic that we will continue to achieve success for our community.

Contact: Captain Charles Campbell
910-692-2732