PRESS RELEASE: Cheyenne PD
Cheyenne Police Continue to Reduce Crime by 14 % and Reduce Vehicle Crashes by 21%
CHEYENNE,Wyo.—Over the last three years the Cheyenne Police Department has lowered part 1 crimes by 14% when compared to the previous 11 years. Last year (2012) 404 crimes occurred per 10,000 residents. Over the last three years the Police Department has been able to lower crimes to an average of 392 crimes per 10,000 residents. Between 1999 and 2009 the City maintained an elevated average of 455 crimes per 10,000 residents. (according to crime data supplied to DCI and the FBI)
The City experienced a slight increase in property crime in 2012 from 2011, partly due to the Garage Door Bandits, who were apprehended. There were no homicides in 2012, and there was a 20% decrease in rape and robbery crimes.
Chief Kozak attributes this swift downturn in crime to a change in policing philosophy in Cheyenne; saying, "The dedicated members of the Cheyenne Police Department are now committed to working in collaboration with the community while focusing on the quality investigations with an enthusiasm to track down offenders."
The Cheyenne Police investigated 3426 part 1 crimes in 2012 which resulted in 1,135 (33%) being solved by adult arrest and 171 (5%) being solved by juvenile arrest, which is higher than the 27% state average. Cheyenne Police arrested a total of 1587 suspects in 2012, which was an 18% increase from 2011.
Chief Kozak said, "I am especially proud of our focus to reduce vehicle crashes through directed enforcement of our Traffic Officers, which resulted in a 21% decrease in accidents."
The Agency responded to 58,165 calls for service in 2012 and averaged a 2 minute and 15 second response time to the 36,000 priority one (emergency) calls. The agency averaged just less than five minutes to respond to other non-emergency calls.
Highest Calls for Service:
Assist another: 6,684
Disturbances: 4,711
Suspicious Activity: 3,435
Larceny: 2,083
False Alarms: 1,560
Domestic Violence: 1,225
As you can see from the above call types, the police spend most of their time involved in non-criminal calls to provide assistance. CPD encourages citizens to call us on suspicious activity, which may lead us to uncover criminal activity.
If fully staffed at 105 officers, the Cheyenne Police would have a ratio of 1.7 officers per 1,000 residents. The average in Wyoming and in the United States is 2.3 officers per 1,000 residents. CPD has averaged a staffing shortage of 12% throughout 2012 due to difficulties in recruiting qualified police officer candidates. Chief Kozak closed by saying, "Our people have stepped up to having to work hard with fewer resources".
Total Vehicle Reportable Crashes in 2011 = 1608
Total Vehicle Reportable Crashes in 2012 = 1332 (21% decrease)
Total Violator Traffic Stops = 14,290
