After the Gainesville Police Department saw an increase in crime from 2008 to 2009, the city has seen another increase, and this time, it’s a good thing.
GPD Cpl. Tscharna Senn said there has been an increase in the number of crimes reported by citizens, and this initiative has helped curb the city’s climbing crime rate during the past three months.
While the University Police Department had a decrease in crime from 2008 to 2009, GPD had a 7.6 percent increase.
Senn said Chief Tony Jones put more officers on the street to tackle the crime rate.
“We’re dealing with crime differently,” Senn said.
Senn said that she believes these changes are responsible for the decrease in crime that GPD has seen in the past three months.
There has been a 7.42 percent reduction in violent crimes and a 2.5 percent decrease in property crimes, she said.
According to UPD Capt. Jeff Holcomb, the crime rate on UF’s campus dropped 18.5 percent in 2009.
Theft is the most common crime on campus, and Holcomb said the best way for students to avoid becoming victims of theft is through education.
He said students need to protect their belongings and secure their property when leaving it unattended.
