Gwinnett Police Release Crime Stats and Trends

Gwinnett County has released its crime figures from last year, reporting that the county’s crime rate dropped in 2011 compared to the previous year in nine major categories.

In addition, the , which patrols Peachtree Corners, reported that the average response time to emergencies in the first six months of 2011 dropped from almost seven minutes to less than five and a half.

In a press release, the following drops in crime were reported:

• 4 percent fewer arson incidents.
• 20 percent fewer vehicle thefts.
• 17 percent fewer rapes.
• 20 percent fewer cases of theft from a motor vehicle.
• There were also decreases in robberies, residential burglaries and aggravated battery. Aggravated assaults fell almost 9 percent while business burglaries were down about 4 percent.
• The total number of gang-related incidents fell almost 5 percent.

Homicides, however, were up from the previous year. There were a total of 24 homicides last year, up from 20 in 2010. Of the homicides, 10 were domestic-related, five were drug-related, five involved robbery, three were police-involved shootings and one was an unknown situation. Almost 88 percent of these homicides have been cleared, and investigators have strong leads in several of the still unsolved cases.

“Of course I’m pleased to report these results, which are in line with trends we’ve seen since 2009,” Gwinnett Police Chief Charles Walters said in the press release. “We were fortunate to be able to hire and graduate 54 new officers nearly two years ago that brought our staff to the full authorized level about this time last year.”

Water said the department recently hired 28 new police recruits to fill vacant positions and the new Police Academy class started on Nov. 30.

He pointed out that violent crimes in Gwinnett are down 21 percent in the past two years, compared with a 5 percent drop statewide. Property crime was down 6 percent compared to a statewide drop of just two-tenths of 1 percent.

Walters said he would not fill a total of 25 police positions that are currently vacant in order to cut $1.4 million out of the 2012 budget. He requested no new personnel, no new vehicles and will defer replacing 37 percent of the vehicles that would normally be replaced next year. The department cut another $12,000 in maintenance costs at its headquarters and precinct buildings. 

2011 Statistics compared to 2010

Category                      Percent Decrease

Entering Vehicle           19.98%

Vehicle Theft                19.83%

Rape                            17.47%

Robbery                       12.45%

Aggravated Assault                    8.68%

Burglary/Residential                    6.94%

Aggravated Battery                     4.17%

Burglary/Business                      4.16%

Arson                                         4.00%

Trends 2009 – 2010

Crime Type                 Gwinnett         Georgia           U.S.

Violent crime                down 20.8%     down 5%          down 5.5%

Property crime             down 6.4%       down 0.2%       down 2.8%