![Briarwood
Area Neighborhood
Association, Inc.
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Northwest Patrol Quarterly Neighborhood Meeting of October 22, 2009
Residents of West Little Rock met at 6:30 PM with officers of the Northwest Patrol Division of the Little Rock Police Department at the William Wallace Williams substation at 10,001 Kanis Road. It was a rainy, gloomy afternoon. Four Briarwood residents attended: Joan Bachman, Jim Bell, Betty Danley and Anita Smith.
Residents of West Little Rock met at 6:30 PM with officers of the Northwest Patrol Division of the Little Rock Police Department at the William Wallace Williams substation at 10,001 Kanis Road. It was a rainy, gloomy afternoon. Four Briarwood residents attended: Joan Bachman, Jim Bell, Betty Danley and Anita Smith.
“We’ve cut everything we can cut,” Little Rock Police Chief Start Thomas said. “Now we’re going to have to decide what we’re not going to do anymore.”
Part of the recent increase in residential burglaries (see below) can be explained by a lack of jail space to keep criminals of the street. Worse, some criminals have started gaming the system, knowing that if they’re arrested, they’ll be out of jail within days.
Arkansas’s budget has been cut so the state is housing a lot more state prisoners in county jails. As many as 340 were in the Pulaski County jail recently. Worse, the financial shortfall has forced the state to cut reimburse-ments to counties for the upkeep of their prisoners.
“I don’t see any change on the horizon.” Thomas said. “We’re going to have to somehow restructure our operations or decide what not to do anymore.”
What about the stimulus packages?
We’ve been awarded two stimulus grants, the chief said. One grant, for $1.7 million, is being used to update our out-of-date computer system. We hope to make a deal with the state to get help to update our communications system which is also obsolete.
The second stimulus grant is for job creation or job retention. At present, we have 25 vacancies we can’t afford to fill. But we employ 525 officers and about 100 civilians we want to keep. We may have to use the second package for job retention.
Part of the recent increase in residential burglaries (see below) can be explained by a lack of jail space to keep criminals of the street. Worse, some criminals have started gaming the system, knowing that if they’re arrested, they’ll be out of jail within days.
Arkansas’s budget has been cut so the state is housing a lot more state prisoners in county jails. As many as 340 were in the Pulaski County jail recently. Worse, the financial shortfall has forced the state to cut reimburse-ments to counties for the upkeep of their prisoners.
“I don’t see any change on the horizon.” Thomas said. “We’re going to have to somehow restructure our operations or decide what not to do anymore.”
What about the stimulus packages?
We’ve been awarded two stimulus grants, the chief said. One grant, for $1.7 million, is being used to update our out-of-date computer system. We hope to make a deal with the state to get help to update our communications system which is also obsolete.
The second stimulus grant is for job creation or job retention. At present, we have 25 vacancies we can’t afford to fill. But we employ 525 officers and about 100 civilians we want to keep. We may have to use the second package for job retention.
Little Rock Police Chief Stuart Thomas.
Shortages in the
Northwest Patrol Division
Captain Ken Temple, commander of the Northwest Patrol, talked about problems within the division, largely caused by the early release of repeat offenders.
The division has eight districts (click here to view division and district maps - opens in a new window). With the present vacancies and other duties, there is sometimes only one officer on duty in a district.
If a crime-in-process is suspected, two officers are assigned to respond so there is a backup. This may mean borrowing an officer from another district. In addition, besides being expected to respond promptly to traffic accidents, officers police football games, state fairs and other events.
Northwest Patrol Division
Captain Ken Temple, commander of the Northwest Patrol, talked about problems within the division, largely caused by the early release of repeat offenders.
The division has eight districts (click here to view division and district maps - opens in a new window). With the present vacancies and other duties, there is sometimes only one officer on duty in a district.
If a crime-in-process is suspected, two officers are assigned to respond so there is a backup. This may mean borrowing an officer from another district. In addition, besides being expected to respond promptly to traffic accidents, officers police football games, state fairs and other events.
Adjutant Sergeant Zebbie Burnett and Captain Ken Temple.
Response Times by Division
The chart on the left shows response times by division.
The average response time for the Northwest Patrol (10 minutes) is the longest, but that’s caused by two factors.
One is that Nothwest districts are bigger than the Downtown or Southern districts.
Second is that, if the Pulaski County Jail is filled to capacity, the Northwest Patrol officer has to drive his prisoner all the way over to the jail in North Little Rock. Then, when he has to respond to a call from North Little Rock, it greatly increases the average response time.
The chart on the left shows response times by division.
The average response time for the Northwest Patrol (10 minutes) is the longest, but that’s caused by two factors.
One is that Nothwest districts are bigger than the Downtown or Southern districts.
Second is that, if the Pulaski County Jail is filled to capacity, the Northwest Patrol officer has to drive his prisoner all the way over to the jail in North Little Rock. Then, when he has to respond to a call from North Little Rock, it greatly increases the average response time.
Residential Burglaries
For the Last 3 Weeks
This is a chart showing residential burglaries for the three weeks in the Northwest Patrol Division, ending Sunday, October 18th.
Note that most burglaries occurred in District 60 (all of BANA east of Mississippi is in District 60). Most burglaries occurred during the morning shift (from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For the Last 3 Weeks
This is a chart showing residential burglaries for the three weeks in the Northwest Patrol Division, ending Sunday, October 18th.
Note that most burglaries occurred in District 60 (all of BANA east of Mississippi is in District 60). Most burglaries occurred during the morning shift (from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
More Residential Burglaries
This Year than Last Year
Possibly because of the recession, there have been more residential burglaries this year than last.
The chart to the left shows that burglaries, which were almost double for June, 2009 as compared to June of 2008 (150 to 84) had been reduced by the first three weeks of September to almost the same.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that since the end of September, residential burglaries have shown a sharp increase.
The police, based on reports of which criminals have been released from jail, can almost predict the increase.
This Year than Last Year
Possibly because of the recession, there have been more residential burglaries this year than last.
The chart to the left shows that burglaries, which were almost double for June, 2009 as compared to June of 2008 (150 to 84) had been reduced by the first three weeks of September to almost the same.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that since the end of September, residential burglaries have shown a sharp increase.
The police, based on reports of which criminals have been released from jail, can almost predict the increase.
The Northwest Patrol
Needs Your Help
Captain Temple has asked residents of the Northwest Patrol area to secure their houses and to call the police ... at 911 ... if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods. Any information given the police will help.
Police Chief Thomas pointed out that the shooter in the June 1, 2009 slaying of Pvt. William Long in Little Rock, the worst terrorist attack in America since 9/11, was stopped and arrested by police within 15 minutes because of a call made to 911 describing the terrorist’s vehicle.
If you see something suspicious in your neighborhood ... anything that you believe is suspicious ... call 911 and report it.
Needs Your Help
Captain Temple has asked residents of the Northwest Patrol area to secure their houses and to call the police ... at 911 ... if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods. Any information given the police will help.
Police Chief Thomas pointed out that the shooter in the June 1, 2009 slaying of Pvt. William Long in Little Rock, the worst terrorist attack in America since 9/11, was stopped and arrested by police within 15 minutes because of a call made to 911 describing the terrorist’s vehicle.
If you see something suspicious in your neighborhood ... anything that you believe is suspicious ... call 911 and report it.
A New Twist in
Auto B & E
Those who attended the quarterly meeting watched a video taken by a security camera during early morning hours.
The scene is a driveway with two vehicles parked side by side. A SUV pulls up across the street and stops. A man, with a rolled-up newspaper in his hand, gets out and walks over to the driveway as if he is going to deliver the paper.
However, he walks around both cars and checks the doors. All appear to be locked.
So, he walks away, with the rolled-up newspaper still in his hand, gets back into his SUV and drives off.
Auto B & E
Those who attended the quarterly meeting watched a video taken by a security camera during early morning hours.
The scene is a driveway with two vehicles parked side by side. A SUV pulls up across the street and stops. A man, with a rolled-up newspaper in his hand, gets out and walks over to the driveway as if he is going to deliver the paper.
However, he walks around both cars and checks the doors. All appear to be locked.
So, he walks away, with the rolled-up newspaper still in his hand, gets back into his SUV and drives off.
Auto B&E For
The Last 3 Weeks
The chart to the right shows auto B&E for the three weeks ending Sunday, October 18, 2009.
The district with the most incidents was District 63 which is Rodney Parham and to the north. Luckily, BANA escaped almost scot free.
Note that most auto B&E occurs at night between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
It is very important that you lock your car when you leave it and not leave anything of value showing.
The Last 3 Weeks
The chart to the right shows auto B&E for the three weeks ending Sunday, October 18, 2009.
The district with the most incidents was District 63 which is Rodney Parham and to the north. Luckily, BANA escaped almost scot free.
Note that most auto B&E occurs at night between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
It is very important that you lock your car when you leave it and not leave anything of value showing.
A List
Of Traffic Stops
The chart on the left is a list of the traffic stops made by the Northwest Patrol during the third quarter of 2009, with the number of tickets written at each stop.
All told, 218 traffic citations were issued by the Northwest Patrol during the period.
Residents who attended the Northwest Patrol meeting were encouraged to suggest locations for future traffic stops.
Of Traffic Stops
The chart on the left is a list of the traffic stops made by the Northwest Patrol during the third quarter of 2009, with the number of tickets written at each stop.
All told, 218 traffic citations were issued by the Northwest Patrol during the period.
Residents who attended the Northwest Patrol meeting were encouraged to suggest locations for future traffic stops.
A List Of
Helpful Numbers
The last item on the program was this list of helpful telephone numbers.
The home security surveys are free, but an appointment must be made to have the survey done on your home.
Unfortunately, I could show only a few of the charts presented at the Northwest Patrol meeting.
Also, I have more or less left out the question and answer session in which answers (for example, can you shoot an intruder without fear of repercussion) were discussed at length and in detail.
Helpful Numbers
The last item on the program was this list of helpful telephone numbers.
The home security surveys are free, but an appointment must be made to have the survey done on your home.
Unfortunately, I could show only a few of the charts presented at the Northwest Patrol meeting.
Also, I have more or less left out the question and answer session in which answers (for example, can you shoot an intruder without fear of repercussion) were discussed at length and in detail.