Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 5, 2017
Southern Pines Police Department
Announces 2016 Crime Reduction

On January 5, 2017, Chief Robert Temme of the Southern Pines Police Department announced continued reductions in crime during 2016. Throughout the year, the town of Southern Pines experienced a 19% decrease in Part 1 index crime. This builds on a 9% decrease in Part 1 index crime that occurred in 2014 and a 13% decrease in 2015. 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 2016 were lower than the preceding twenty three (23) 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 nationwide 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 continual 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. Our department has displayed an unwavering commitment to those we have sworn to protect by setting achievable goals and then exceeding these goals, at the same time maintaining positive community relations and tremendous community support. Additionally, I would like to thank Mayor David McNeill, the Southern Pines Town Council, Town Manager Reagan Parsons and Assistant Town Manager Chris Kennedy for investing in, and supporting our crime reduction strategy.”

The Southern Pines Police Department investigated four hundred twenty three (423) index crimes in 2016, 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 2016, there are seven hundred thirty eight (738) fewer victims of index crimes in 2016 than 1995, which represents a 63% decrease in index crime. The comparison of 2016 to the remaining twenty three (23) years prior to 2016 is equally impressive.

For 2016, compared to the previous year (2015), Aggravated Assaults were reduced by 25%, overall Violent Crime was reduced by 16%, Burglary was reduced by 30%, Larceny was reduced by 17%, and overall Property Crime was reduced by 20%. There was a slight increase (+3) in reported robbery incidents in 2016, from twelve (12) in 2015 to fifteen (15) in 2016. An analysis of the data for the past three years (2014, 2015 and 2016) shows that Part 1 Crime in Southern Pines has been reduced by 36%.

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.

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Contact: Captain Charles Campbell
910-692-2732