Crime trending the right way

Despite the ongoing course correction underway at the Burbank Police Department, officers still managed to clamp down on crime, with the city experiencing an overall drop in 2010.

Even the spike in the number of prostitution-related arrests is heartening, as history has shown that prostitutes and their pimps thrive in permissive environments.

Despite the positive crime trends — one that may have also benefited from a corresponding drop in serious crimes last year in our behemoth neighbor, L.A. — Burbank police continue to face their own challenges, and demons.

A lawsuit accusing officers of excessive use of force recently moved to federal court, and a top-down review of department tactics and policy is expected out sooner rather than later. The year 2010 was rougher, it appears, on the department than the actual crime trends, which is commendable in its own right.