Chief reports drop in crime

214 DUI arrests were made in 2008

By ANN NICCUM (The Intelligencer )
Published: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:16 AM CST

The number of crimes reported in the city of Edwardsville dropped last year, but it was still a busy year for its police department.

Police Chief James Bedell made the announcement as he presented the department's 2008 annual report to the City Council on Tuesday.

Bedell said the 2008 FBI Crime Index numbers for Edwardsville are: no murders, two criminal sexual assaults, two robberies, nine aggravated assaults/batteries, 32 burglaries, 339 thefts and five motor vehicle thefts and no arsons.

Other than one additional motor vehicle theft, Bedell said all other crimes reported dropped from 2007.

"Fewer burglaries, fewer thefts and fewer batteries," Bedell said.

The major decline in statistics has been in burglaries – down from 91 in 2006 and 62 in 2007.

The department has also been busy cracking down on those violating the law.

Bedell said the department recorded 214 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests in 2008.

"Edwardsville continues to be a leader in the state in DUI arrests," Bedell said.

The department also solved several major cases in 2008.

Bedell said the department joined forces with other departments to help capture the suspects who had burglarized more than 40 motor vehicles in a three month period in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Maryville. He said the suspects eventually confessed to a total of 75 motor vehicle burglaries also in surrounding communities.

Bedell said the department caught two juvenile residential buglers in the act and the arrest lead to solving two local home burglaries and a theft of a handgun in Missouri.

He said the department also arrested the three suspects who had stolen more than $25,000 in copper and caused more than $20,000 in damage at JF Electric.

The police department also made a few changes throughout the year.

Bedell said the department started several new initiatives in 2008.

"We have a new mission statement," Bedell said. "It is the mission of the Edwardsville Police Department in cooperation with our community to protect life, property and enhance the quality of life for all of our citizens."

Bedell said the department also issued 500 new orders as a result of the development of a new general orders meeting by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Bedell said the new orders cover more than 40 categories.

"They cover everything imaginable," Bedell said.

In addition, Bedell said the department started its Beat Officers program to better serve the community.

A few weeks ago, Bedell said the department initiated the program and assigned 16 police officers to serve four designated areas in the city. He said each beat will be served by a team of four officers.

Along with protecting the community, the department was again active in educating the community.

Bedell said the department conducted more community presentations in 2008 to groups and organizations, such as the Lion's Club, Rotary, NAACP, local churches, business and banks.

The department was still active in the schools. Bedell said the department has three School Resource Officers and five crossing guards on staff. It also hosted programs such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) in area schools which taught more than 1,200 students in 2008 about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and its summer Police Youth Academy which covers topics such as leadership, physical fitness and citizenship.

Bedell said the department also resumed its activities to get involved in the community through programs like Big Brothers and Sisters, Special Olympics, Glen-Ed Food Pantry's annual basketball game and its annual DARE Auto Show.

In 2008, the department additionally participated in educational programs for its employees.

Bedell said the department logged more than 2,000 hours of professional training in areas such as 9-1-1 call handling, firearms and hazardous materials.

With all the active in 2008, the department is now focusing on the new year – not only to continue these services and programs – but also starting some new projects.

Bedell said the department's goals for 2009 include: implementing rental housing registration process; developing a proactive accounting for property maintenance issues; bar coding all evidence; integrating old department records into new records management system; developing a traffic management and selective enforcement process and bulletin; developing Internet access for customers requesting traffic crash reports; and reducing the number of auto burglaries through education programs.

After Bedell spoke, Mayor Gary Niebur said he was very impressed with the presentation.

"We're all very proud of the services provided by the men and women of our police department," Niebur said. "Thank you for your leadership."