Westchester Insider: 8/2 - 2PM - Westchester County Executive George Latimer to Give Westchester Weekly Update: Focus on Crime.

 

County Executive George Latimer to Give Westchester Weekly Update: Focus on Crime.

 

As Law Enforcement Officials Nationally Aim to Combat Crime, Latimer & Public Safety Deputy Commissioner Terrance Raynor Will Discuss the County’s Efforts Resulting in an 11% Decrease in Index Crimes Since 2017.

 

Monday, August 2

2 p.m.

Michaelian Office Building

148 Martine Ave.

9^th Floor

White Plains, NY 10601

Watch on https://www.facebook.com/westchestergov/

 

(White Plains, NY) Over the past four years, Westchester County has experienced a decrease in major crimes.  Contrary to some other jurisdictions, Westchester results have been praised by Westchester County Executive George Latimer.  Latimer, crediting the County Police Department and local police departments with a more proactive approach to preventing crime and collaborative policing strategies. 

 

2017 to 2020

• Index Crimes, 11% decrease
• Violent Crimes, 18.8 % decrease
• Property Crimes, 9.4% decrease
• Violent Crimes with Firearms, 22.3 % decrease
• Weapons Secured,  370% increase

 

Latimer said: “I commend the work of our brave men and women in making the streets of Westchester County safer than four years ago.  Fighting crime is sometimes with a heavy hand, and sometimes it’s making more proactive and inclusive choices.  Proactive and inclusive choices – which are hallmarks of my administration- are what we are seeing here today. All the law enforcement in this County is working to make Westchester safe and I am glad to say today that we are seeing the results of their hard work.”

Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sheriff Thomas Gleason said: “I want to thank County Executive Latimer for his support of our brave men and women and his support of our approach to policing.  Law enforcement is part of the community and it is only when we work together that we can succeed.” 

Latimer said: “We cannot predict the future, but we are committed to monitoring crime statistics and providing resources where and when they might be needed.”

The decrease in crime statistics come from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and Westchester County Department of Public Safety.

Index Crimes*

11% Decrease

Index crimes represent a total of seven major categories of crime: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle thefts.

	2017	2018	2019	2020
Index Crimes	11,580	9,842	9,663	10,306

 

Westchester County Index Crimes Reported January - April 2021 vs. 2020 PRELIMINARY DATA
	2020	2021
Index Total	3,322	2,681
Violent Total	492	468
Murder	8	4
Rape	32	27
Robbery	122	121
Agg Assault	330	316
Property Total	2,830	2,213
Burglary	276	201
Larceny	2,335	1,845
MV Theft	219	167
Source: DCJS, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (as of 6/28/2021)

 

Violent Crimes*

18.8 % Decrease

Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

	2017	2018	2019	2020
Violent Crime	1,953	1,675	1,633	1,585

 

Property Crimes*

9.4% Decrease

Property crimes include burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts.

	2017	2018	2019	2020
Property Crime	9,627	8,167	8,030	8,721

 

Violent Crimes with Firearms*

22.3 % Decrease

A subset of violent crimes in which a firearm was used during the commission of a murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

	2017	2018	2019	2020
Violent Crime with Firearms	295	203	185	229

 

 

Westchester County Police Pistol License Unit Activity

370% Increase

	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Weapons Secured	90	62	117	222	423

 

Westchester County Department of Public Safety Deputy Commissioner Undersheriff Terrance Raynor said: “As the supervisor of this division it gives me great pride to know that we have made the streets of Westchester County safer.  No one wants illegal guns floating around and falling into the wrong hands.  I thank County Executive Latimer for his support in this important work.”

In order to keep legally possessed firearms from becoming illegal, a proactive measure employed by the Pistol License Unit, is to monitor pistol license expiration dates.  Each time a license is not renewed prior to the expiration date, the permit holder is notified of their permit lapse and directed to surrender their firearms. In these cases the firearm can be secured at the applicant’s local police department or brought to the Westchester Department of Public Safety.  In cases where the permit holder may be disabled or has passed away, members of the unit may ask a responsible family member to secure the firearm and turn it over to local law enforcement for safekeeping.  These actions help to keep firearms from becoming abandoned, lost or placed into the hands of unlicensed civilians.

The unit also works closely with the County Attorney’s office when serving court orders upon firearm license holders, seizing and securing firearms pursuant to such orders.

*Source https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/crimnet/ojsa/countycrimestats.htm

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