Overall Crime and Robberies Down, Assaults Up

Three key categories of crime are at their lowest rate in more than nine years, according to a report from the Howard County Police Department.

However, the department's numbers show aggravated assaults grew by 14 percent from 2010 to 2011, from 307 incidents to 351. Arrests from aggravated assaults also increased by 23 percent in 2011. Four homicides occurred for the second year in a row in the county.

The department released a statement today saying robberies are at their lowest rate since 2002, while burglaries and auto thefts are at the lowest rate in the county since 1999. The overall crime and violent crime rates are also below statewide crime rates.

The rate dropped from 2,545 crimes per 100,000 people to 2,454, according to the department. The crime rate for the entire state is 3,549 per 100,000 people. Violent crimes in the county occurred 204 times per 100,000 people while the state rate is 547.

"Our efforts have included adding new officers and restructuring our patrol beats to be more effective. We have focused heavily on identifying emerging crime patterns and repeat offenders," Howard County Police Chief William McMahon said in the statement.

McMahon said the department has increased uses of technology while also engaging the county's youth to foster relationships between young people and community resource officers.

“These numbers show that Howard County is one of the safest areas to live, work and visit," McMahon said.

“I am committed to keeping public safety as my No. 1 priority and I commend the dedicated officers for their service and their ability to forge meaningful partnerships across Howard County," said County Executive Ken Ulman.

Robberies in the county dropped from 222 to 211 per 100,000 people while burglaries dropped from 1,393 to 1,108 and auto thefts fell from 380 to 366.

The department also noted that crash fatalities decreased from 15 to 13.