Sheriff’s Office reports drop in crime

Recently released statistics show the crime rate fell in the agency’s jurisdiction during the past year.

The numbers are consistent with national crime figures compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the FBI, murders were down 10 percent, robberies by 6.5 percent and rapes by 3.3 percent in the first half of 2009. Overall, the FBI reported a 4.4 percent drop in violent crime as a whole through June 2009.

In Barrow County, the decrease is even more drastic.

In 2009, the Sheriff’s Office did not report any homicides. Two were reported in 2008.

The number of rapes reported in 2009 fell by 14 percent from the previous year, robberies fell by 70 percent and aggravated assaults declined by over 32 percent. The number of burglaries, thefts and motor vehicle thefts also decreased significantly. The only area in which the Sheriff’s Office reported an increase was in the number of simple assaults.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith attributes the drop in crime to a collective effort by the entire department.

“We try to saturate the higher crime areas,” he said. “We are trying to have more traffic guys out on the road and a little more visibility.”

Smith believes the increased visibility in high crime areas and on heavily trafficked corridors contributed to lower crime rates last year.

“There is no telling how many people we affected just by talking to them or stopping them for a few minutes,” he said.

Though 2009 statistics are not yet available for Barrow County as a whole, reports compiled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations indicate crime rates have fluctuated within the county over the past few years. The GBI collects information from law enforcement agencies across the state to track instances of murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.

While pleased with the latest numbers, Smith admits there are some factors beyond the control of law enforcement.

“We just go out there and try to do the best we can,” he said.