Overall, 2011 ended with a bit of a mixed bag for local law enforcement. Crime was down in the city and county, but more people died on the roads. Now, both agencies are implementing changes to make policing more efficient, and keep you safe. We don't know what's in store for 2012, but police are doing what they can to be sure they're prepared.
From new focus areas, to implementing state-of-the-art technology, 2012 is slated to be a year of big changes. Police in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are setting new priorities for the new year.
Sergeant Darrell Byers of the Albemarle County Police Department said, "Going into the new year, we're going to look at traffic enforcement. We're going to look at obviously making the roads a little bit safer for the residents and visitors of Albemarle County."
Lieutenant Ronnie Roberts of the Charlottesville Police Department added, "We have a lot of community policing issues, as well as having a lot of dedicated men and women out here every day, trying to make this a better place to live."
Last year, 2011, was one of the deadliest years on record on county roads.
"We were at 13 last year, and if you start looking at the numbers we're at 20 within Albemarle County," stated Byers. Police want that number to drop in 2012, so officers are focusing on safety behind the wheel. "Speed, seat belt use, and DUI. So those are the three things we'll be looking at, because that's what we're seeing that's actually killing people on the roadways in Albemarle County," explained Byers.
Crime in the city of Charlottesville was down about 16 percent compared to 2010. Police want to continue that downward trend and are changing policies to make that happen.
"We're going to a paperless environment, that's the way most of the reports and most of the agencies are starting to go across the nation," Roberts said.
City police met with the state DMV last week to discuss the change, which will likely take place later in the new year.
Roberts said it is an interesting program; "Something that I thought about many years ago, and it's beginning to take its shape and moving forward across the state."
While improving efficiency, the move to paperless reporting should also improve access for you. you'll be able to access information much faster, and police say it will help them better analyze data they receive.
