Annual Report 2003

Crime

In

Cumberland

County

Issued by:

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

Records Management and Information Center (REMIC)

Mark A. Rundlett, Director / Earl (Moose) Butler, Sheriff

Cumberland County had a decrease in calls for service of less than one percent in 2003. The Sheriff’s Office responded to 87,454 Calls for Service for calendar year 2003. During this time, the Sheriff’s Office served all Ex-Parte orders and over 76% of all civil papers for Cumberland County.

Homicides, Rapes, Robberies, Burglaries and Auto Thefts have all decreased over the past year. Assaults continue to rise despite a small increase of 4% compared to 2002. Personal and commercial robberies have increased from 2001.

Response times continue to improve due to computer technology deputies use in their patrol cars. This decrease in response time even takes into account that housing development continues to increase in the east side of the Cape Fear River. More information is readily available to the officer out on patrol and reports and follow up notes are electronically submitted.

In our effort to support the Citizens of Cumberland County, the Sheriff’s Office will continue to support community policing by using all available resources. The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Citizens of Cumberland County, will continue to decrease and prevent crime in Cumberland County.

Sincerely,

Earl “Moose” Butler

Sheriff of Cumberland County

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

UNIFORM CRIME REPORT

Prepared by Mark A. Rundlett, REMIC Director

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to thank the following personnel for their dedication and hard work:

Tina Bramble

De’Shelia Baggett

Cathy Watkins

Ernestine Applegett

Amanda Hughes

Gail Chavis

Christal Standen

Michael Bushee

This document was prepared in its entirety using Microsoft Office 2000.

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD……………………………………………… page iii

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES…………………………. page 1

MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING…………………….. page 2

RADIO DISPATCH ANALYSIS………………………… page 3

SUBDIVISION CRIME………………………………….. page 10

SWORN OFFICER STRENGTH………………………… page 13

UCR PART I OFFENSES………………………………... page 14

PATROL AREA TRENDS……………………………….. page 17

CRIME INCIDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS……………….. page 20

VIOLENT CRIMES

HOMICIDES……………………………………………... page 21

RAPES……………………………………………………. page 27

ROBBERIES……………………………………………... page 33

ASSAULTS………………………………………………. page 39

ASSAULTS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS….. page 44

PROPERTY CRIMES

BURGLARIES…………………………………………… page 49

LARCENIES……………………………………………... page 53

AUTO THEFTS………………………………………….. page 58

UCR PART II OFFENSES………………………………. page 62

ARRESTS INFORMATION…………………………….. page 66

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THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

FOREWORD

This crime report includes only those offenses, which have been reported to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. See the attached map outlining the areas under the Sheriff’s patrol jurisdiction. In order to obtain a complete Cumberland County crime picture you must add those offenses that have been reported to the Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills and Stedman Police Departments. The FBI’s annual report “Crime in the U.S.” and the SBI’s “Crime in North Carolina” will also be helpful if you are looking for crime statistics covering the entire country.

The information in this report reflects data as it has been reported. No guessing, no speculating… just plain facts.

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THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES IN 2003

Listed below is a summary of the most meaningful events recorded in 2003

· There were a total of 87,454 calls for service in 2003, a decrease of .002% compared to the 87,623 recorded in 2002.

· During 2003 the total number of investigations initiated was 16,562 a decrease of 2.2% from the 16,930 investigations recorded in 2002.

· The dollar amount of the property reported lost/stolen in 2003 was $6,496, 901.02 (16,414 items) compared to $5,998,431.92 (17,375 items) in 2002, an increase of 7.7%.

· The dollar amount of recovered stolen property was $388,280.42 (1643 items) or 10% of the property items reported stolen.

· Damaged and Burned property reported in 2003 was $2,276,490.64 (5,458 items). Seized property amounted to $563,751.90 which included 1,700 seized items.

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING INFORMATION - 2003

· Cumberland County covers an estimated area of 657.94 square miles. The Sheriff's Office patrols 513.24 square miles of the county. Fayetteville PD, Fort Bragg, Spring Lake PD and Hope Mills PD patrol the other 144.7 square miles.

· The total population in the county is now 302,812 inhabitants of who approximately 126,530 are located in the sheriff's patrol area.

· The Sheriff's Office employs 267 Paid Sworn Deputies, 59 Non-Paid Sworn Deputies (F- Platoon), 81 civilians and 80 civilian part time (Crossing Guards).

· The Jail employs 127 Jail & Detention Officers, 21 Deputies and 25 civilians.

· A patrol officer handles an average of 268 complaints during the year and initiates an average of 50 investigation reports.

· The number of funeral escorts conducted by the Motorcycle Unit was 449. Funeral escorts on weekends conducted by F-Platoon were 140. There were a total of 1149 Funeral Escorts.

· The number of alarm calls was 12,354 and the number of alarms requiring no action was 12,214 (98.8%). There were 140 alarm calls that were actually the result of a crime being committed.

· The total number of processes issued by the Civil Office was 39,616. 76.3% or 30,233 papers were actually served.

· The Sheriff's Office processed 3,323 Gun Permit Applications. There were 2,766 handgun permits issued during the year. Also, 396 concealed carry permits were issued.

· There were 3,352 Records Checks completed for various agencies in Cumberland County in 2003. There were also 2,902 Finger Print requests processed during 2003.

· In 2003, 55 deputies were assaulted while performing their duties. Even though the majority of the assaults were minor in nature, they are still a big concern. Assaults on officers increased 58% from 2002.

· There were 4,660 arrests made during the 2003 year. This results in a decrease of 12% from 2002.

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

CRIME FACTORS

The crime rates and volume of crime differ from area to area. Many factors must be taken under consideration when analyzing the causes and origins of crime. Following are some of the conditions, which will affect crime in your area.

1. The density and size of a community

2. The composition of the population in reference to race, sex and age.

3. The economic status and education of the population.

4. The stability of the population

5. The weather conditions in the area.

6. Policies and the attitudes of the courts.

7. Attitude of the public towards the law and its enforcement.

8. Hiring standards for appointment to law enforcement.

9. The overall strength and efficiency of law enforcement.

**** **** ****

CLEARANCES

Clearances in this report refer to two clearance categories:

a. Cleared by arrest

b. Cleared by exceptional means.

Offenses cleared by exceptional means are those cases, which have been closed other than by arrest and, for one of the following reasons:

1. The victim refused to prosecute and requested that the investigation be discontinued.
2. The offender is in jail in another jurisdiction and cannot be extradited.
3. The case was transferred to another jurisdiction.
4. The offender has killed himself or was killed.
5. The victim requested a report for insurance purpose only.

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

WHERE DO WE STAND,

IN THE STATE

Compared with other Counties in the State using 2002 Data..

Cumberland County placed Eighth in 2002 with a violent crime rate of (699) per 100,000 inhabitants. Mecklenburg County is still in first place (1,092), followed by Columbus County with (885). The counties with the lowest violent crime rates that reported for 100% of the county were Hyde (34.8) and Macon (52.6). This information refers to the entire counties including incorporated areas.

Cumberland County placed Sixth in 2002 with a property crime rate of (6416) per 100,000 inhabitants. Vance County is first (7,410), followed by New Hanover County with (6813). The counties with the lowest property crime rates that reported for 100% of the county are Yancey (513) and Hyde (522). This information refers to the entire counties including incorporated areas.

Source, 2001 Crime in North Carolina Report

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

The 1998 estimated population make-up of Cumberland County as follows: White 181,208 (61.9%); Black 93,385 (31.9%); Indian 4,683 (1.6%); Asian 6,147 (2.1%); and Other 7,318 (2.5%), it also lists Hispanic of all races at 14,051 (4.8).

Source, 1998 County Estimates

THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT ON CRIME 2003

PATROL AREA DESCRIPTIONS

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has divided the area enclosed by the county boundaries into nine patrol zones. These patrol zones are described below and on the chart on page 13.

ZONE 1: East of the Cape Fear River along Fayetteville City Limit Boundary to Old Clinton Road to New Highway 24 to Sampson County Line.

ZONE 2: East side of Dunn Road to Eastover to I-95 to Exit 13. East on Highway 13 to Sampson County Line.

ZONE 3: East of the Cape Fear River to Harnett County Line. From Harnett County Line