Sgt. Ron Gordon is the designated crime analyst for the department. The crime analyst supports the Patrol, Detective, and Administrative Divisions as well as other government agencies, individuals and businesses in the community by providing information on reported crimes and calls for service.

The role of the crime analyst will be greatly expanded in the coming year. The usefulness of statistical information is in direct correlation with the timeliness of the data analyzed. One of the primary advantages of the mobile field reporting system is the ability to acquire current information from the records management system. The objective is for the crime analyst to utilize this information while still fresh to prepare regularly scheduled reports revealing overall activity and identifying any criminal patterns as they develop. The advantage of a quick turnaround from incident report to prepared analytical report is that it allows department staff to develop a response that places resources in the areas needed. Continued reports by the analyst allow the staff to evaluate the effectiveness of their actions and make adjustments as necessary.

In addition to crime analysis reports for the department, Sgt. Gordon will continue to respond to requests from watch groups concerned about activity in their neighborhoods, and requests from businesses and individuals.

All Part I crimes are down 7% for 2010. While reported crimes are lower this year, the number falls well within the range of what we expected to see. In spite of an increase of four Murders, violent Part I crimes are down 32% for the year. Much of this is due to a reduction of 108 Aggravated Assaults and 39 fewer Robberies. Rape did increase by 8 over 2009. Simple Assaults are up 4%, leaving total Assaults down 5% for the year. Part I property crimes are down 4% for the year as well. We had 112 fewer Burglaries and nine fewer Motor Vehicle Thefts while Stealing and Arson remained about the same as the previous year.

Crime mapping, crime reports, and crime analysisfor St. Joseph with CrimeReports.com