Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker released the first half of 2021 statistics showing officers provided 5,656 police services so far this year, an increase of 589 from the first half of 2020.
The department has been fully staffed with34 sworn officers with the hiring of Officer Madison Douglass in 2020. She graduated from the police academy in June of 2021 and joins the other fully-trained officers on patrol.
“Retention of police officers, in this political climate, is difficult for many police departments,” said Chief Shoemaker. “We are very fortunate to have the staff that we have and to keep them there.”
According to the department’s 2021 Year-to-Date Crime statistics (January-June), so far there is a 45.6 decrease in reported violent crimes in the city when compared with the same time period of 2020. Violent crimes consist of homicide (0), rape (0), assault (23), sexual assault (8) and robbery (0). There is a 30.2 decrease in burglary, a 31.1 percent decrease in theft and a 54.5 decrease in motor vehicle thefts.
The department has conducted 2,925 traffic stops, a 61 percent increase from 2020, 446 citations and 729 warnings have been issued of these traffic stops.
“The more traffic stops we make, the more criminals are put on notice,” said Chief Shoemaker. “It is no secret that our traffic enforcement results in lower crime and helps reduce the risk of being involved in a serious vehicle crash.”
The patrol division has investigated 227 crashes with zero fatalities and 19 total injuries. Most collisions occur as the results of failure to yield the right of way and unsafe backing.
Overall adult drug violation arrests saw a decrease when compared with 2020. So far in 2021, there is a 21 decrease in overall drug violation arrests in the city. There also is a 10 decrease in DUI arrests.
“A decrease in crime and DUI attempts is a result of proactive policing and reports made by the police and public,” Chief Shoemaker said. “We want people to feel safe when out and about in Frankfort.”
The Code Enforcement Division has initiated 821 incidents with 334 citations and 508 warnings. The division is comprised of two full-time code enforcement officers.
According to Deputy Chief Jim Skinner, “Our code enforcement officers have been a model for other cities in Indiana. The officers respond to citizen complaints as well as self-initiate their own complaints.”