http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/NEWS/705030745/1008/NEWSREWIND
WORCESTER— Guns were not the top weapon used in crimes committed in the first three months of this year, compared to last year. Knives were used more, according to crime statistics released this week by the Police Department.
In the city, there were three shootings with four victims from Jan. 1 to March 31, a decrease from the five shootings and six victims during the same timeframe last year. The shootings last month doubled the total number, with six shootings and eight victims through April 29. Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said the April shootings, however, caused the number of shootings and victims to surpass the total for the first four months of the year compared to last year.
From Jan. 1 to March 31, the number of guns used in crimes was down 11.4 percent with 39 instances compared to 44 last year.
The chief said an alarming number of knives were used in crimes, a statistic that increased 32.8 percent for the first three months of the year. There have been 77 instances of knives used in crimes compared to 58 over the first three months of last year.
“That’s been the trend we’ve seen a good part of last year as well as this year,” Chief Gemme said Monday. “High impact individuals walking around with knives pose a real public safety situation both in terms of the general public and law enforcement. We are stopping more people who have knives.”
One of the two murders in the city this year, up from none the first three months of last year, saw a knife used in the killing.
Christopher E. Olivencia, 17, was heading back to his 33 Vernon St. apartment when he was stabbed once in the chest on March 8. The knife penetrated the teenager’s heart and he died in a city hospital shortly after the attack. Carlos Rios Jr. has been charged with murder and the case continues in court.There were 19 stabbings or knife slashings from Jan. 1 to March 31, compared to 14 over the same time last year, a 35.7 percent increase. Police investigate to determine whether gang or drug activity is involved, Chief Gemme said.
It is difficult to deter people from carrying knives and they are easier to conceal and obtain than guns, he said.
“It (carrying or having a knife) doesn’t have the same consequences as having a firearm,” Chief Gemme said. “We need to be aware and make sure it doesn’t escalate into more.”
Gunshot calls increased over the first three months compared to last year with 46 calls compared to 39, a 17.9 percent increase.
Police officials meet weekly to analyze trends and increases in particular crimes and the increase in gunshot calls prompted the department to review the areas in which the reports occurred, what times and whether there was gang activity in those areas, the chief said.
Property crimes have also increased, with motor vehicle thefts jumping 35.5 percent with 420 instances in the first three months compared to 310 during the same time period last year. Property crimes in general increased 8.4 percent. Aggravated assaults have also increased by 14.8 percent from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Chief Gemme said a bright spot in the statistics is the decrease in robberies, down 9.4 percent. There were 77 robberies in the first three months this year compared to 85 over the same timeframe last year.
The Police Department placed the A Team back on extended shifts throughout the night and into the early morning during Thursdays and over the weekend after serious incidents increased recently. The A Team is made up of community impact officers.
Gang unit members are also out targeting problem bars and after-hours parties. A community impact area will also begin this month in the lower Grafton Street area.
Normally the first three months of the year are quiet because of the colder weather and the summer months have more criminal activity, Chief Gemme said.
“We like to see downward trends in crime in the first three months,” he said. “We’ve seen the opposite.”
The chief wants to “keep a lid on the emerging issues” and hopes the added patrols and officers on the streets does that. He is concerned that if the crimes continue to increase, so would his use of overtime, forcing him to run that budget into a deficit.
WORCESTER— Guns were not the top weapon used in crimes committed in the first three months of this year, compared to last year. Knives were used more, according to crime statistics released this week by the Police Department.
In the city, there were three shootings with four victims from Jan. 1 to March 31, a decrease from the five shootings and six victims during the same timeframe last year. The shootings last month doubled the total number, with six shootings and eight victims through April 29. Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said the April shootings, however, caused the number of shootings and victims to surpass the total for the first four months of the year compared to last year.
From Jan. 1 to March 31, the number of guns used in crimes was down 11.4 percent with 39 instances compared to 44 last year.
The chief said an alarming number of knives were used in crimes, a statistic that increased 32.8 percent for the first three months of the year. There have been 77 instances of knives used in crimes compared to 58 over the first three months of last year.
“That’s been the trend we’ve seen a good part of last year as well as this year,” Chief Gemme said Monday. “High impact individuals walking around with knives pose a real public safety situation both in terms of the general public and law enforcement. We are stopping more people who have knives.”
One of the two murders in the city this year, up from none the first three months of last year, saw a knife used in the killing.
Christopher E. Olivencia, 17, was heading back to his 33 Vernon St. apartment when he was stabbed once in the chest on March 8. The knife penetrated the teenager’s heart and he died in a city hospital shortly after the attack. Carlos Rios Jr. has been charged with murder and the case continues in court.There were 19 stabbings or knife slashings from Jan. 1 to March 31, compared to 14 over the same time last year, a 35.7 percent increase. Police investigate to determine whether gang or drug activity is involved, Chief Gemme said.
It is difficult to deter people from carrying knives and they are easier to conceal and obtain than guns, he said.
“It (carrying or having a knife) doesn’t have the same consequences as having a firearm,” Chief Gemme said. “We need to be aware and make sure it doesn’t escalate into more.”
Gunshot calls increased over the first three months compared to last year with 46 calls compared to 39, a 17.9 percent increase.
Police officials meet weekly to analyze trends and increases in particular crimes and the increase in gunshot calls prompted the department to review the areas in which the reports occurred, what times and whether there was gang activity in those areas, the chief said.
Property crimes have also increased, with motor vehicle thefts jumping 35.5 percent with 420 instances in the first three months compared to 310 during the same time period last year. Property crimes in general increased 8.4 percent. Aggravated assaults have also increased by 14.8 percent from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Chief Gemme said a bright spot in the statistics is the decrease in robberies, down 9.4 percent. There were 77 robberies in the first three months this year compared to 85 over the same timeframe last year.
The Police Department placed the A Team back on extended shifts throughout the night and into the early morning during Thursdays and over the weekend after serious incidents increased recently. The A Team is made up of community impact officers.
Gang unit members are also out targeting problem bars and after-hours parties. A community impact area will also begin this month in the lower Grafton Street area.
Normally the first three months of the year are quiet because of the colder weather and the summer months have more criminal activity, Chief Gemme said.
“We like to see downward trends in crime in the first three months,” he said. “We’ve seen the opposite.”
The chief wants to “keep a lid on the emerging issues” and hopes the added patrols and officers on the streets does that. He is concerned that if the crimes continue to increase, so would his use of overtime, forcing him to run that budget into a deficit.
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