Overall crime in Hamilton Township has decreased for the second consecutive year.
Hamilton’s overall crime rate dropped 7.2 percent during 2015, which was a record low for the township, according to officials. This surpassed 2014, which previously held the lowest crime rate since the police department began using an electronic crime database to track crime in 1977. While overall crime decreased in the township, violent crimes rose by 4 percent last year.
Chief of Police James Collins said the police and community both played an important role in decreasing crime.
“I believe that the dedication of our police personnel has continued to [bring] an even lower crime rate this year,” he said. “I also believe that the community, especially the neighborhood watch members, contributed to the reduction as well.”
From 2014 to 2015, instances of burglary, simple assault, motor vehicle theft, robbery and larceny all decreased. Hamilton’s crime rate is now 18.8 crimes per 1,000 residents, down from 20.3 crimes in 2014.
Mayor Kelly Yaede stressed that while the numbers are impressive, it’s important to remember the people behind the statistics.
“It’s not just stats, behind those crimes there are real lives with real stories to tell, someone who has been victimized,” the mayor said. “And what these stats mean to us today is that less Hamiltonians are being victims of crimes.”
Despite the lower overall crime numbers, violent crimes rose by 4 percent.
Collins said that violent crimes are often harder for the police department to prevent, however, they are working to find ways to curb the violence. He said the department holds monthly meetings to discuss new strategies and to track where the violent crimes are taking place.
“We do analyze where it’s happening, how it’s happening, to see if there’s anything to do from our point of view to stop it from happening in the future,” Collins said.
Yaede said the township will not be complacent about the crime rates — both nonviolent and violent crimes — and they are preparing to launch new initiatives to further decrease crime. In addition to deploying police body cameras, the mayor said the police will upgrade their communication system in 2016.
The township will also launch a series of programs to fight prescription drug abuse, including adding a Project Medicine Drop box in the police department lobby. Yaede said this will give residents a safe location to dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription drugs.
The township and police department will also continue to work with the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse and Law Enforcement Against Drugs to educate children and teenagers about the dangers of prescription drugs.
Chief of Police James Collins and Mayor Kelly Yaede discuss Hamilton’s low crime rates during a press conference.,
