Overall crime rates decline in city
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on March 23, 2018 5:50 AM
Overall crime rates in the city of Goldsboro decreased by 6 percent in 2017, with the number of homicides on par with the previous year.
Homicides in the city have increased every year during the past five years, with 11 homicides reported in 2016 and 2017, said Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West, during an annual report to the Goldsboro City Council Wednesday.
"Currently out of last year, six have been cleared and five are currently under investigation," West said.
There were five homicides in 2013, six in 2014 and nine in 2015, according to a five-year comparison report West provided to council.
Larcenies make up the largest share of reported crimes -- 1,526 -- with the city experiencing a 6 percent increase in 2017. All other areas, including rape, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary, vehicle theft and arson, decreased during the year.
Some of the larger decreases were in the number of rape cases, down by 67 percent; aggravated assault, down by 31 percent; burglary, down by 22 percent; vehicle theft, a 37 decrease; and arson, which dropped by 40 percent.
In 2017, there were a total of 2,663 reported crimes, which are the lowest number on record for the Goldsboro Police Department in eight years, West said.
"I will tell you 2017, the 2,663, that's the lowest it's been since 2009," West said. "I think a lot of it's attributed to the community is responding with assistance, as far as crime reporting, giving us information.
"And, I think some of it's attributed to the way we've reorganized within in the department."
The lower crime rates in 2017 may be due to several factors, said Scott Stevens, city manager.
"The economy is also improved," Stevens said. "So, hopefully, people have opportunities they didn't have. I think there are a lot of things that we can say are probably helping."
West also presented comparison numbers for area cities, with the cities of Wilson and Kinston reporting lower crime rates and Greenville reporting higher crime figures, during the past five years. All cities experienced more crime in 2015 -- the highest year for Goldsboro in a five-year comparison -- and all cities reported fewer crimes in 2017.
The report was presented during the council's two-day annual retreat at the Goldsboro Event Center.
During the meeting, the council received reports but took no action on street resurfacing, downtown trash service needs, financial forecasting, a new Herman Park recreation center and requests to add 18 new staff positions.