Despite aiming for a 5 percent drop in crimes ranging from murder to petty theft, the Berkeley Police Department recorded an 11 percent year-over-year increase in such crimes during 2012. However, according to a report from police chief Mike Meehan, most of the increase was due to a spike in larcenies last year.
“Crime in several categories remained near or below 2011 levels. In 2012, there were fewer robberies,aggravated assaults, burglaries and arsons than in 2011,” wrote Meehan.
[For a breakdown of all crimes in Berkeley in 2012, and a year-by-year comparison, see the screenshots attached to this post.]
Mehhan wrote that, "several strategies and tactics contributed to the reduction of certain crimes, particularly robbery and burglary. These included:
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- Multiple weekly Crime Analysis and Response Strategies meetings
- Robbery Suppression Teams—Data driven and specifically focused teams working in partnership with the University of California Police Department (UCPD) to reduce street robberies
- South Side Safety Patrols—A partnership with the UCPD designed to address on-going crime and community issues in the South Campus area
- Initial implementation of a Crisis Intervention Team—A program designed to improve safety for the public, mental health consumers and officers which offers the potential to prevent crime
- Telegraph Avenue Patrol (TAP)—A joint UCPD/BPD patrol covering the areas ofTelegraph Avenue and People’s Park
- Identification and focus on chronic offenders"
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