Police reveal 2013 statistics

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming released crime statistics for 2013 on Thursday, which revealed that increases in vandalism and trespassing offenses are up 54% and 32% respectively when compared to a year ago.

Cumming attributes the increase in offenses to the condition of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in a report to Town Manager Bullock released Thursday.

Cumming also reported that traffic stops are up 27.5% in 2013 compared to a year ago.

Cumming credits the installation of the Key’s license plate-recognition cameras being installed in August for the increase in traffic stops. There were 1,536 traffic stops in 2013, compared to 1,204 traffic stops in 2012.

The department has also worked with the Planning, Zoning and Building Department to create the position of a code enforcement officer that will now be supervised under the police department.

“This reorganization will minimize duplication addressing code violation and provide a more efficient level of service,” said Cumming in his report.

In 2013, Cumming also noted his department cross-trained patrol officers to supplement marine patrol officer duties through an in-house program, added another police boat and reorganized the structure of the department and made promotions to experienced officers.

“The 2013 calendar year has been challenging and yet productive,” Cumming wrote. “We’ve made important progress this year building what will be the foundation for future improvements.”

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].

2013 Longboat Key Police Department Statistics Compared to 2012

Category      2012      2013 %        Difference

•  Alarms (residential & Business) 860 745 -13.3

•  Assaults 1 4 300

•  Battery 6 5 -16.0

•  Alcohol Violations 16 13 -18.7

•  Bicycle Theft 15 6 -60.0

•  Boating 417 432 3.5

•  Burglary 50 24 -52.0

•  Code Enforcement 33 63 90

• Community Policing (Auto Alert) 12 14 16

•  Death (Natural/suicide) 13 16 23

•  Disturbance 208 199 -4.2

•  DUI 6 4 -33.0

• Larceny 78 81 3.1

•  Narcotics 1 3 200

• Vandalism 11 17 54

• Public Service (non-criminal) 420 418 -.4

•  Rescue (Assist LBKFD) 922 840 -8.0

•  Robbery 1 1 0

•  Sex Offenses 5 3 -40

•  Soliciting 16 13 -18.7

•  Suspicious incidents/people 274 183 -33.2

•  Traffic (accidents) 84 88 4.7

•  Traffic Stops 1,204 1,536 27.5

•  Trespassing 43 56 30.2

•  Bicycle accidents 15 13 -3.3

•  Vehicle Theft 0 0 0

•  Warrant Arrests 7 7 0

Total Activity (2012) 4,718 (2013) 4,784 10.9

* These figures represent all activity, whether in response to a citizen complaint or generated by an officer while on routine patrol. The information documents both criminal as well as noncriminal activity resulting in police involvement.