Statistics Show Decrease in Major Crime in 1999

The Buena Park Police Department has had a lot to be pleased with in the last decade, but especially last year, when all-time low statistics in most major crimes were posted.

Statistics show there was a 28.6% reduction from 1998.

There were significant decreases in the major crimes--rape, robbery, assault, burglary, auto theft and petty theft--despite a rise in emergency and nonemergency service calls. There were about 40,000 service calls last year.

But to get a clear perspective of the recently released figures, law enforcement officials say it’s important to note that the decline has been steady over the years and exceeds nationwide statistics.

“When you look at the decrease of 145.2% [over a 10-year period], it’s just phenomenal,” Police Chief Richard M. Tefank said. In 1990, 4,668 felony crimes were reported, he said. Ten years later, the number was 1,904.

Tefank credits his officers and partnerships with the community for the drop. The development of crime-fighting teams, new city ordinances, the three-strikes law, daytime and nighttime curfews and the philosophy of community policing come into play, he said.

Although homicides in 1999 were higher than in 1998, police spokesman Sgt. Chris Nunez explains that unlike other types of crimes, homicides are “extremely difficult to prevent because they are usually committed in the heat of passion.” A low point for the department was in 1991 when seven homicides were reported.

Police Capt. Gary Hicken, chairman of the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force, praised this vital group, which includes members from agencies from around the city and county. The group, started about five years ago, focuses on improving quality of life.

“Obviously, this is an opinion, but I think the task force and the POP [Problem Oriented Policing] team are an integral part of the strategy to reduce major crimes in Buena Park,” Hicken said. “We have a lot of volunteers here that live in the community and are a part of that task force.”

He said that reserve officers and volunteers from Citizens Assisting Police contributed 23,607 hours of service toward the city last year.

It is also significant that arrests have also gone up, he said. In 1999, there were 4,736 arrests made--about a thousand more than the year before.

“I don’t how much lower it can go, but it’s still going down,” he said, referring to the statistics.

Ana Cholo-Tipton can be reached at (714) 966-5890.

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Dramatic Decrease

Crimes ranging from rape to burglary have dropped significantly in Buena Park despite a rise in service calls.

‘90: 4,668

Total major crimes ‘99: 1,904

Major Crime Categories

Homicide

1990: 4

1999: 3

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Rape

1990: 26

1999: 12

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Robbery

1990: 220

1999: 99

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Assault

1990: 401

1999: 147

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Burglary

1990: 940

1999: 321

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Auto theft

1990: 989

1999: 335

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Theft

1990: 2,088

1999: 987

Source: Buena Park Police Dept.