There are significant changes in assaults, burglaries and drug offenses – Neuse News

The Kinston Police Department's most recent quarterly report shows significant increases in several crime categories compared to the same period last year, reflecting significant changes in public safety dynamics across the city. The report, which includes data from July to September 2024, shows an increase in crimes such as assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft, while drug-related incidents and certain non-violent crimes showed different trends.

The police chief's perspective

“I believe our numbers this year will be consistent with our numbers from last year, with a slight increase and a slight decrease in certain categories,” said Kinston Police Department Chief Keith Goyette. “As I have said in the past, it is critical for a police department to maintain a balanced perspective when evaluating and evaluating statistical data. While it is important to recognize our successes, we must remain vigilant and aware that crime trends may fluctuate due to various factors beyond our immediate control.

Chief Goyette added, “The latest data indicates an increase in crime this quarter compared to the same period last year. This increase spans across different crime types, suggesting that multiple underlying factors are contributing to this increase. While there may be temporary fluctuations in crime rates, this trend highlights the need for increased community engagement, strategic monitoring, and effective resource allocation. Our department remains committed to comprehensively analyzing these patterns and adapting our approaches to address this issue as a priority, and we are committed to curbing this trend through proactive and collaborative efforts.”

Serious crime is increasing

There has been a significant increase in the number of assault crimes, with the number of serious assaults increasing by 188% from 17 incidents last year to 49 this year. Simple assaults also increased by 138%, reaching 157 reported cases. Incidents of intimidation more than tripled, increasing by 222% to a total of 58 cases.

Property crimes also escalated. Burglaries and break-ins increased by 164% and motor vehicle thefts increased by 200%, from 6 to 18 incidents. Other thefts, including shoplifting, increased by 363%, increasing from 16 to 74 cases.

Drug crimes show mixed results

A mixed picture emerged for drug offenses that are classified as narcotics offenses. Drug crimes fell slightly by 5%, from 87 last year to 83 this year. However, there were more significant decreases in drug equipment violations, down 26% to 23 incidents.

Weapons law violations and violent crimes

There was also a slight decrease of 13% in violations of the weapons law; 54 cases were reported this year. Meanwhile, incidents involving murder and non-negligent manslaughter doubled from one to two cases, and cases of forcible rape quadrupled, for a total of four incidents reported.

Changes in reporting standards

The Kinston Police Department report notes that this year's data was compiled using the same National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) statistics that are sent to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). This represents a change from previous years, where data was collected from officers' field reports.

“Some statistics appear to be significantly inflated or inflated due to changes in data collection methods,” said Jacob Foy, crime analyst with the Kinston Police Department. “However, the current year figures are reliable and as we move away from our old system, the data will be more concise year-on-year.”

General trends

Overall, Group A crimes, which include more serious crimes, rose by 88%, from 505 incidents last year to 949 this year. In contrast, Group B crimes, which include less serious offenses such as disorderly conduct and driving under the influence, saw a 54% decline, with reported incidents falling from 419 to 194.

One standout statistic is the 1,900 percent increase in driving under the influence cases from 0 to 19 incidents, indicating a significant increase in law enforcement vigilance or changes in community behavior. Additionally, the city saw a 650% increase in theft crimes.

I'm looking forward to

The Kinston Police Department emphasized that despite changes in data collection methods, the information remains valuable in assessing crime trends. “We are committed to providing reliable and transparent data to the community, and we will continue to refine our processes,” Foy added.

The report suggests that while the city faces increasing challenges in violent and property crime, efforts continue to address these issues, including adjusting data collection and analysis.

For more information, visit the official Kinston Police Department website or contact Crime Analyst Jacob Foy at [email protected].