VIOLENT CRIME DOWN IN 2008

ST. GEORGE - The one certainty about crime statistics is that they
constantly change, sometimes rising, other times falling back. In 2008 St.
George Police Department crime statistics showed a little of both.

The statistics are made up of part one and part two crimes. Part one
crimes are more violent crimes and most of them are felonies. Part two
crimes include charges such as fraud, prostitution, drug abuse violations,
vagrancy and more.

Sgt. Scott Lemmon said part two crimes can be prevented by people just
being observant. Part one crimes aren't preventable because the person has
already made up their mind up to commit the crime.

"If we can make a bigger difference in part two crimes, I believe not as
many part one crimes will occur," he said.

Lemmon added he thinks some of the reasons part two crimes are occurring
is because of the shape the economy is in.

"People are desperate in trying to survive and unfortunately some of them
result in crime. Then there's people who are going to do it because they
need more dope," he said.

There are eight crimes described as part one crimes. They are criminal
homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary,
larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

According to the report forcible rape increased from 18 reports in 2007 to
29 in 2008. Robbery increased from 15 reports in 2007 to 22 in 2008. Motor
vehicle theft increased from 97 in 2007 to 121 in 2008. The other crimes
decreased.

According to the report larceny-theft reports were at 1,936 in 2007 and in
2008 decreased to 1,818.

After reviewing the year's numbers, Police Chief Marlon Stratton was
pleased with the decreases in 2008 of part one crimes.

"We don't just go out there and react to crime, we're focusing on the
crime issues," he said. "We don't just get out and put a Band-Aid on a
situation, we tell officers to go out and identify the problem."

Stratton added they're glad to see decreases but they still have a lot of
work to do.

Officers agreed a lot of crimes wouldn't happen if there wasn't a drug
problem.

"The core of focusing on crime is focusing on drug crimes because people
need to support their drug habit," Stratton said.

Lt. Scott Staley with the Washington County Drug Task Force said 2008 was
a busy year for the task force.

In the crime reports drug abuse violations decreased from 1,081 in 2007 to
1,006 in 2008.

"Meth seizures were down from '07 to '08," Staley said. "I don't know if
that's an indication that 7 percent of the population isn't using meth."

He added the task force had a good year, but there are no set answers that
come from statistics.

"Seizure numbers are hard to put a whole weight to. One case can make such
a big difference," Staley said. "But there is absolutely not less heroin
and absolutely not less pills."

Stratton said they realize the statistics could change tomorrow.

"I think we have an outstanding police department and outstanding police
officers," he said.

Stratton added the reason people come to St. George is to get away from
crime.

"I really believe citizens are more conscientious of crime," he said.

Stratton said community members have assisted in solving major crimes and
continues to encourage residents to send in tips to the tip line on the
Web site www.sgcity.org/police.

The anonymous tip line is 627-4343.

To view the statistics in their entirety, visit www.sgcity.org/police.