Thursday, March 28, 2024

Is crime increasing in the Historic Triangle? Statistics say ‘no’

Williamsburg Master Police Officer Laura Ammons speaks to a Williamsburg resident over the phone on June 19, 2017. (Sarah Fearing/WYDaily)
Williamsburg Master Police Officer Laura Ammons speaks to a Williamsburg resident over the phone on June 19, 2017. (Sarah Fearing/WYDaily)

Williamsburg Master Police Officer Laura Ammons has spent 20 years digging deep into her community.

During some 12-hour shifts, Ammons, 47, may respond to only two or three calls. On those shifts, she keeps busy with patrols through hotel parking lots, waving to those lingering outside their doors. She visits meager camps on the fringes of her community, residents’ homes that carry no address.

On other days, she bounces from call to call in her Ford police interceptor, with hardly a moment to spare.

Although Ammons’ days on the job are unpredictable, one thing is certain: crime is down.

Crime rates in the Historic Triangle have been trending downward since 1999, Virginia State Police data shows. Amidst a steady population increase on the Peninsula, crime is still dropping.

Despite the downward trend, social media and casual conversation often reflect a different perspective: A belief that crime is actually increasing.

“It’s a very common belief – there’s actually a fairly high percentage of people who perceive crime getting worse,” said Graham Ousey, professor and chair of the sociology department at William & Mary. “We are not in a community or area where crime in running unchecked by any stretch.”

But media coverage, politics and a natural fear response are strong factors in people’s perceptions on crime, which most likely contribute to the misleading perception, Ousey said.

Nationally, crime rates have almost returned to a pre-1960 level, he said.

“We’re not in a particularly crime-ridden point in our history, according to the data we have,” he added.

Why do people think crime is increasing?

Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of police officers like Ammons patrol the streets, investigate crimes and assist those in need.

Surveys show 57 percent of Americans in 2016 believed police were fighting more crime than they were in 2008, even though the United States has seen a two-decade long downward trend in violent and property crimes, according to the Pew Research Center.

Locally, Williamsburg, James City County and York County are also experiencing a downward trend, according Virginia State Police data.

When asked why Historic Triangle residents might believe crime is increasing, Ousey said media coverage, politics and emotional fear responses create perceptions of increasing crime.

“The disparity to me is just the difference with a fear response,” Ousey said. “I think we particularly see news about events that may be kind of scary. They could be attacks, murders – those are the things that tend to grab headlines.”

Ousey added the crimes covered, like homicides and assaults, are also relatively rare compared to crimes like theft, burglary or “purse-snatching.”

Crime is also a hot topic among politicians, who may use crime as a “scare tactic” to meet political objectives, he said.

Ousey believes an emotional fear response can also affect people’s judgement on the crime rate.

“In some ways, our fear response is irrational,” he said.

Local education and tourism may cause decrease

A specific reason for the decline in local crime is not clear, area police say, although some speculate citizen education programs have impacted crime.

James City County Police Deputy Chief Steve Rubino said more education programs, such as the citizen’s police academy, have been implemented over the last two decades. Helping residents recognize and prevent crimes is key, he said.

“We’re very proud of our prevention efforts,” Rubino said. “When we see something trending up, like fraudulent crimes and some scams, we’ll put information on our websites and through social media with tips to help people protect themselves.”

In York County, Lt. Dennis Ivey said his department’s vigilance in solving crimes and increasing patrols likely has influenced the crime rate.

“It’s just actively patrolling, keeping our eyes alert,” Ivey said. “People are realizing we catch a lot of people who commit crimes here.”

In Williamsburg, Maj. Greg Riley said a declining number of tourists in Williamsburg may affect the crime rate. Tourists are often targeted in larcenies, which is one of the city’s most common crimes.

The size of local police forces has also increased slightly, helping create a stronger police presence in the area. Williamsburg Police has increased from 34 sworn officers in 1999 to 38 in 2016, James City County Police from 59 officers in 1999 to 97 in 2015 and York County from 75 officers in 1999 to 86 in 2015.

An ebb and flow in crime

Like Ammon’s experiences with both slow and busy days as a Williamsburg patrol officer, the crime rate over months and years ebbs and flows, Ousey said.

Williamsburg Master Police Officer Laura Ammons patrols through the woods on foot on June 19, 2017. (Sarah Fearing/WYDaily)

The rate will spike up and down, Ousey said, although analysts need to “smooth out” the upward and downward peaks to see the overall trend.

While there are always exceptions, Ousey said smaller communities typically experience less crime.

For Ammons, the tight-knit community of Williamsburg and the ability to get close with city residents is one of the best perks of the job.

“The city really is a close community, and I think that’s why I’ve stayed here,” Ammons said. “You have a tighter bond with people rather than big cities.”

Fearing can be reached at sarah.f@localvoicemedia.com.

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

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