Sheriff's stations see drop in violent crime
From PressTelegram.com
Quote:
NORWALK - The Norwalk and Lakewood sheriff's stations were among several Los Angeles County stations that have seen major drops in violent crimes this year.
The Norwalk station, which also oversees sheriff's substations in the cities of La Mirada and Whittier, had a 21.8 percent drop in overall violent crimes for the first nine months of 2011.
The Lakewood station - which covers the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood and Paramount - saw violent crime plummet by 24.8 percent, according to statistics released by the Sheriff's Department Monday.
Lt. Jeff Scroggin, in charge of operations and the second-in-command at the Norwalk station, credited the crime reductions in his region with a strong combination of dedicated deputies and community members.
"We have a strong corps of volunteers who check on homes while people are on vacation and ... can back up patrol in their neighborhoods," Scroggin said.
Monday's release of the crime statistics showed areas patrolled by the Sheriff's Department collectively saw violent crime decline by more than 12.5 when compared with the same period last year.
Serious property crimes declined by 3.5 percent in sheriff's patrol areas countywide during that period. Combining both categories, overall crimes declined by about 5.4 percent, the Sheriff's Department reported.
Lakewood and Norwalk were among several sheriff's stations that experienced the most significant decreases in overall violent crimes.
Other stations listed by the Sheriff's Department include the Santa Clarita Valley station at 35.2 percent, Avalon station at 30.4 percent, Malibu/Lost Hills station at 29.7 percent, Carson station at 24 percent and Crescenta Valley station at 21.6 percent.
There were 127 homicides countywide through September of this year, a decrease of about 2.2 percent from the same period in 2010, when there were 131 homicides, said sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.
Most notably, Parker said, were decreases in homicides in the Carson, East Los Angeles and Lancaster areas.
Scroggin said Norwalk's crime reductions are due in part to several successes in a number of areas, from significant recent convictions for robberies and property crimes, to a continued focus on gangs.
Norwalk station Capt. Patrick Maxwell pushes for active police work by having deputies focus their efforts on the most problematic members of the community, the lieutenant said.
That includes frequent parole and probation checks and undercover operations, Scroggin said.
"We also have a very active detective bureau that operates ... seven days a week," Scroggin said. "If we get a case we work it every day, we don't close shop."
That is in contrast to some police agencies that have had to cut detective division hours in light of budget problems.
The Norwalk station also has an aggressive anti-gang unit that deals with most of the violent assaults, but also works with other divisions when gangs are involved in property, drug and other crimes.
Another vital component, he said, is the city's support of the sheriff's station.
"We have a city council that is very supportive, they still carve out money for public safety even in these tough economic times," the lieutenant said.
