Gun incidents down from last year
By Michael Bielawski
Burlington’s rising crime rates aren’t slowing down even as more officers and other professionals are joining their ranks to help try and stem the trend. This is according to the latest data from the monthly chief’s report, presented to the City Council by Police Chief Jon Murad.
One category at an all-time high: “simple assault” which is at 96 such incidents already for the year compared with a previous high of 85 as of July 15 of last year.
The data in these tallies span five years back, meaning these are from 2018 to 2023 – as of about midway through each year, through July 15.
Burglary is another category that’s already passing recent records. After last year’s high of 95 by mid-July the city has 97 such incidents at the same juncture for this year.
The most dramatic increase in any category is overdoses. From 2018 to 2022, the high by July 15 was last year with 97 overdoses. By that date this year there have already been 252 overdoses with about another half of a year to go.
Stealing cars is already at an annual high with 172 thefts, compared to 170 at this point last year.
One of the few categories that may not break a new record is that there have been only five gun-related incidents so far this year, compared to 16 at this point of last year. The previous high was seven by mid-July which was in 2021.
Another part of the report sums up the data with these observations.
“Year-to-date, incidents in 2023 are up 23% compared to 2022,” the report states. It continues, “They are up 39% over 2021. In fact, there have been more incidents than any year since 2018; incidents are down 3% since 2018. Patrol officers are addressing ≈3% fewer incidents with ≈50% fewer officers.”
They have unarmed help too
The department in addition to 65 regular officers of which 57 are available to be independently deployed, there are also six Community Service Officers and five community service liaisons.
The report states that CSOs are “These are unarmed, unsworn officers who answer quality-of-life calls for service. … The role is also a stepping stone to becoming a police officer.”
Of the CSLs, they are “embedded social workers with expertise in mental health, substance use disorder, and houselessness. … The CSLs are part of the CAIP team: Crisis Assessment Intervention Programs. Our therapy dog, Rocky, is part of the CAIP team, too.”
Earlier this week VDC was told by some store managers on Church Street that the police general do not respond to reports of theft. At least one store was advised to watch security footage and if a thief can be identified, confront the person if they return and tell them to leave.
Community responds positively to the new chief
This report marks the first by the now acting Police Chief Jon Murad, until earlier this month when he was formally elected by the City Council into the role, he had spent about three years with an ‘interim’ in front of his title.
An interview with him regarding the achievement can be seen on Twitter. One of the commenters expressed gratitude for the development while sharing some frustration that it took the Council as long as it did to finally make the move.
“Well Commissioner, you have to realize that -generally speaking- the leadership in Burlington is comprised of idiots. It takes them quite a while to recognize talent,” wrote @BlackthornDF.
The author is a reporter for Vermont Daily Chronicle.