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Crime Rate Drops Again in Cedar Hill

May 18, 2007

By LOYD BRUMFIELD / Today Newspapers

The overall crime rate in Cedar Hill dropped 3.6 percent in 2006 and violent crimes dropped 10.6 percent, according to an annual report filed by the Cedar Hill Police Department.

Police Chief Steve Rhodes delivered the report to the city council at a May 8 meeting and said while the news is good, his department is monitoring several concerns and trends.

The number of Part 1 crimes (murders, assaults, rapes and violent robberies, for example) remained unchanged from one year to the next in an amazing statistical quirk, Rhodes said.

In 2005, 1,551 Part 1 crimes were reported, and that figure was duplicated exactly in 2006.

“So you found that, despite our population increase, the number of those types of crimes remained exactly the same?” Council member Wade Emmert asked.

Rhodes said yes, and that explains why the crime rate dropped as the population grew.

The overall clearance rate for all crimes increased from 34.6 percent in 2005 to 35.7 percent in 2006, Rhodes said, and the department recovered 40 percent of all property lost, compared to a 32 percent average recovery rate for cities similar to Cedar Hill.

The department logged 55,917 service calls in 2006, an increase of 8 percent over the 51,471 calls made in 2005, and it decreased its average response time for emergency calls from 6:21 minutes in 2005 to about six minutes in 2006.

That response time still needs to come down, Rhodes said, as other benchmark cities average a response time of about 5:33.

Cities such as Addison and Bedford have response times as quick as three minutes, the report found.

Rhodes did say there were some things to look out for in 2007.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of emergency response calls,” he said. “I don’t have an exact figure for you, but I’d guess it’s been around 75 percent.”

The department has also seen an increase in calls that require multiple units to respond and a jump in the number of accidents, especially along FM 1382, Rhodes said.

The report also noted an increase in the number of injuries associated with family violence, even though the number of those cases dropped in 2006.

Lost time because of false alarm calls on home or commercial security systems also decreased, and Rhodes attributed that to a stronger city ordinance that requires more expensive alarm permit fees.

The overwhelming number of alarm calls - about 99 percent of them - are still false.

Council member Makia Epie commended Rhodes and his department on their work.

“I can now tell people who come to me and tell me crime is going up, that that’s just a rumor,” he said. “I’m very proud of you, Chief, and the department’s work.”

Rhodes was asked if the department was fully staffed, and he said it was still six officers short.

“Our officers appreciate the support they get from the council and the city staff,” he said. “I have to think we have one of the best working relationships in the state and the nation, as well.”

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