Here’s some awesome news in the midst of all the turmoil in this crazy Antelope Valley housing market! This was just sent to me from Joseph Cabral down at Lancaster City Hall …
City of Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Ranks at the Top in Overall Crime Reduction Throughout Los Angeles County
Lancaster, CA. September 23, 2009 — The City of Lancaster’s Sheriff’s Station ranks second in overall crime reduction compared to all Sheriff’s stations in Los Angeles County thus far this year. According to statistics recently released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Lancaster station has accomplished a 22.3 percent drop in its crime rate thus far in 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to do a truly remarkable job, decreasing violent crime by 10 percent and property crime by 11 percent throughout their policing areas,” remarked Mayor R. Rex Parris. “It is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of the deputies at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station that our part one crime rate has decreased more than double that percentage during the same period. I applaud Captain Axel Anderson, the Lancaster deputies, our Criminal Justice Commission, and the many community stakeholders who have been participating to make Lancaster a truly safe place to live.”
City officials credit this success to a wide variety of innovative crime-fighting tactics. “In spite of economic conditions which had analysts predicting we would experience an increase in crime, we have made a great deal of progress throughout the past year in making our residents safer,” said City Manager Mark Bozigian. “Our public safety efforts our second to none and the results are undeniable.”
These efforts include last summer’s launch of a Criminal Justice Commission, which engages various segments of the community in the fight against crime. In July 2008, the City and the Sheriff’s Department created the Burglary Suppression Team, a unit devoted solely to solving and preventing burglary cases.
In February, the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station was named LA County’s first research and development station. This designation affords the station and the City a number of opportunities to test new techniques in crime reduction and prevention.
The City and Sheriffs have also continued other aggressive initiatives, including the Lancaster Community Appreciation Project (LAN-CAP), a special team that focuses on rental properties. The Sheriff’s High-Impact Team targets problematic areas for 90-day periods to reduce crime. Also ongoing is the City’s partnership with the Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol in an anti-gang task force.
Since mid-2008, Lancaster’s Neighborhood Watch groups have increased more than 50 percent, from 116 to 180. During the same period, the number of Business Watch groups has increased nearly tenfold, from 18 to 168.
“Citizen involvement has been an absolutely essential component of our crime-fighting strategy,” added Mayor Parris. “The Sheriff’s Station and the City simply cannot accomplish this alone. Our residents have provided a resounding response to our call for involvement.”
While Lancaster has seen great success with its many crime reduction efforts, still more are in the works. Late August saw the launch of the Target-Oriented Policing/ Parole Fugitive Apprehension Detail (TOP/PFAD), the evolution of a special unit formerly known simply as TOP. TOP/PFAD will focus on crime prevention in light of the hundreds of parolees who are set to be released early by the State of California during the next two years.
A high-tech crime reduction tool is also in development. Officials are currently researching ways to implement a 360-degree aerial surveillance camera which will be mounted on the bottom of a small plane. The system will have the capability to record close-ups from as far as five miles away, allowing law enforcement officials to zoom in on any location.
“I am proud of our community’s tireless efforts to combat crime, but make no mistake – we are not resting on our laurels,” said Parris. “Nor are we simply playing a numbers game here. We are working to protect our children, spouses and friends from those who wish to do them harm. We are in this fight for the long haul, and we will not rest.”
Other Sheriff’s Stations included in the top five largest crime drops throughout the County were Century City, Norwalk and Walnut. Ranked first was Avalon, a City of approximately 3,100 located on Santa Catalina Island.
