ENDICOTT CHIEF WORRIES ABOUT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME

Drug Arrests At Record High In 2002

ENDICOTT -- The violent nature of some crimes committed in 2002 concerns
Endicott Police Chief Gary F. O'Neil. Robberies, burglaries and motor
vehicle thefts all increased last year, he said.

Statistics showed the 13 robberies were up by four, the 78 burglaries were
up by two, and the 18 motor vehicle thefts increased by six. There also
were four forcible rapes, down one; nine cases of aggravated assault, down
four; and 416 larcenies, down 38.

"These crimes include a deal of concern because of the potential for
violence," O'Neil said. "Guns, knives, strong-arm tactics and a bank
robbery denote a change in the caliber of criminal we are facing."

He said he also worries about drug trafficking in the village.

"The drug figures are really spiky, up or down, depending on the time we
are allowed to spend addressing the issue," O'Neil said.

The annual report shows 95 drug-related complaints were received: 49
violations, 41 felonies and five misdemeanors.

Detective Lt. Craig Williams said the department obtained 12 search
warrants last year related to drug trafficking investigations.

"In the year 2000, we had only six arrests for criminal sale of drugs and
that jumped to 31 in 2001 and a record-high 36 arrests in 2002," he said.
"These are just arrest totals and obviously we do a lot of investigations
that don't wind up in arrests."

Motor vehicle accidents hit a five-year low, at 591. The department
reported 674 in 2001, and a five-year high of 685 in 2000. The accidents
resulted in 101 injuries in 2002, compared with a five-year high of 164 in
2001.

General complaints for 2002 totaled 7,278, up 72 from the previous year.
Criminal complaints totaled 2,206 and were down 137 from the previous year.
A total of 1,045 arrests were made, while 1,276 criminal charges were
levied, both the lowest numbers in the past four years.

The detective division's arrests reached a five-year high, Williams said.
The division accounted for 176 arrests in 2002, up from 115 the previous
year. The arrests included 118 felonies, 53 misdemeanors and five violations.

The department's goals for 2003 include re-establishing involvement with
the Endicott Neighborhood Watch Council. Officials want to have an active
watch group in each of the nine Community Policing Districts.