[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/0...8b045054601.txt

Michigan City crime down 10 percent in 2011

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:07 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — In 2011, the Michigan City Police Department showed a 10 percent overall decrease in crime from the previous year, including a drop in all but one of seven categories the department is required to report to the FBI as part of its Uniform Crime Report.

While the number of homicide reports (two) remained consistent from the year before, the amount of reported rapes, burglaries, assaults, thefts, motor-vehicle thefts and robberies have declined.

Police Chief Mark Swistek shared these figures at Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting.

The decrease in burglaries (from 414 in 2010 to 298 in 2011), Swistek said, is a result of the formation of the Burglary Task Force, which was implemented in late 2010.

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Since its formation, Swistek says 111 people have been charged in conjunction with burglary cases within the community.

Other crime categories that saw significant decreases were in robberies (from 60 to 41), rapes (eight to four), assaults (603 to 568) and thefts (1,511 to 1,412).

The number of motor-vehicle theft reports, although not significantly lower, decreased as well, from 135 reports in 2010 to 122 in 2011.

Swistek points to the addition of the department’s Street Crimes Unit, which doubled its force in late 2010, for the decrease in crime in other areas.

“Since its inception, the unit has made many accomplishments and continues to aggressively enhance narcotic laws and investigate violent crimes,” Swistek said.

The amount of illicit drugs seized increased from 2010, as an additional 505 grams of cocaine and 15 grams of heroin were taken off Michigan City streets.

Although 10,771 grams of marijuana were recovered in 2011, that number is a significant decrease from the amount in 2010, when the SCU seized nearly 35,000 grams.

The SCU also is responsible for seizing 56 weapons in 2011, a vast increase from 11 removed in 2010.

Partnering with other state and local law-enforcement agencies, Swistek said six separate warrant sweeps targeting drug dealers in 2011 added to 182 arrests, and the seizure of several types of drugs, six guns and a stolen TV.

“These efforts are a culmination of dedication and commitment between multiple agencies to make our community safer,” Swistek said.

The chief expects the aggressive approach should continue in 2012.