City crime rate falls for third consecutive year

Largest decreases

Homicide: 2009: 2, 2008: 4

Rape: 2009: 59, 2008: 85

Aggravated assault: 2009: 117, 2008: 182

Source: Hamilton Police Department 2998 Annual Report

HAMILTON — It’s no secret the economy has decimated the job market, and one indicator is the Hamilton Police Department’s smaller force in 2009 over 2008.

Budget cuts led to 13 HPD employees getting laid off, and no new officers have been hired since January 2008 because of a hiring freeze, according to the 2009 annual report.

Despite these challenges, the overall crime rate is down for the third year, according to the report.

Compared to 2008, violent crimes decreased 24 percent in 2009 and incidents such as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault fell from 443 to 335, according to the report.

“It’s not unusual for the level of reported crime to fluctuate up or down from one year to the next,” said Chief Neil Ferdelman, “but I’m certain the dedicated work of the men and women of HPD greatly contributed to the reduction.”

One positive increase is in the amount of illegal drugs seized. The Vice and Problem-Oriented Policing sections obtained more than 10 kilos of cocaine, an increase over one kilo seized in 2008. The increase is because of the April 2009 seizure of eight kilos of cocaine, Butler County’s largest ever.

Crack-cocaine and heroin also saw increases, while marijuana and methamphetamine decreased.

Prostitution remains a problem in the city. The Vice Section conducted five prostitution stings and made 84 arrests throughout the year, one less than in 2008, according to the report.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.