Manning High student CITY CRIME DROPS 10 PERCENT A2 threatens school, suicide IN SPORTS: No. 1A Player of the Year B1 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 Parker leads way for Scott’s Branch WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019 $1.00 CITY OF SUMTER Police chief says education, TOTAL CRIME 2017 2018 department’s investments 2,370 2,124 10 percent decrease MURDER help make Sumter safer 2017 2018 BY ADRIENNE SARVIS victims in Sumter, Roark said, the de- 5 4
[email protected] partment has also made investments in 20 percent decrease solving those crimes. he city of Sumter saw a drop “We invest a lot of money and tech- SEXUAL ASSAULT in overall crime in 2018 as nology and tools to address criminal ac- Sumter Police Department tivity via technology,” Roark said, “and 2017 2018 made strides to increase and it’s going to continue to grow in that di- 19 25 Tenhance its policing, according to rection.” 31.5 percent increase Chief Russell Roark III. Roark said he thinks the Data provided by the department drop in crime is in re- BURGLARY at the Sumter City Council meeting sponse to the department’s 2017 2018 earlier in February showed a 10 public information educa- percent decrease in overall crime tion campaigns with neigh- 410 327 from last year, with an increase in borhood watch groups and 20.24 percent decrease sexual assaults and weapons ROARK social media as well as in- crimes. telligence-led policing. VEHICLE BREAK-INS Roark said the police department The agency recorded an increase of 2017 2018 is above the national average in the more than 500 percent in traffic on the 461 329 clearance rate of property crimes, agency’s website in the last year, he crimes committed by juveniles, fi- said.