Athens’ notorious party-related history aside, service calls for narcotics, alcohol-related arrests and reports of assaults and vandalism have been on the downswing over the past few years, according to the Athens Police Department’s Annual Report.
Police say an increased emphasis on presence around town and a large increase in the volume of traffic stops have contributed to the decrease in crime.
“Once you start doing that, that can bring other things down,” Lt. Jeff McCall said.
“If you’re out in the community and people see that and recognize it, they understand that if they’re going to do something, they’re more likely to be apprehended than maybe out in more of a rural area.”
APD Chief Tom Pyle said he believes the increase in officer presence has led to a less belligerent and calmer attitude overall Uptown.
“Since we’re having some impact on the party culture and whatnot, I could say that (it’s calmed down Uptown), but I don’t have the data to back it up,” Pyle said. “All I can say is the drop in assaults coincides with increased staffing and presence during those hours.”
McCall also linked the decrease in reports of vandalism to the increased police presence in town, but he said a high percentage of these crimes happen around campus and Uptown is never solved.
Mayor Paul Wiehl said he first heard of these trends after a conversation with Chief Pyle late last year.
“Obviously, it’s a good thing, Wiehl said. “There is still room for improvement as always.”
He said a trend of thefts “against the student population” when they leave town during long breaks is worrisome.
There were five reports of student residences burglarized during the first two weeks of January, when students would have been returning from winter break, according to a previous Post article.
Alcohol-related arrests have been nearly cut in half since 2004, when the officers started using a new “reporting matrix” for making these arrests.
“We were much more focused on alcohol-related arrests, just any alcohol violation, and now it’s on behavior and not whether or not someone has a beer in their possession,” Pyle said.
“Also a switch in emphasis from liquor violations more to traffic enforcement, noise enforcement, things like that, so there has been a shift in our enforcement priorities over the years,” he said.
In regards to narcotics, Pyle said the drop is directly connected to a drug task force APD participated in with other agencies in Athens and Washington counties.
“So there was a more regional-wide effort for clamping down on drug issues,” Pyle said.
He added the department still participates in a mini task force involving the Ohio University Police Department and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
The 2013 annual report will be released once Wiehl approves it, Pyle said, adding he doesn’t know when that will be.
@AKARL_SMITH
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