By Casey Curtis
Leader Staff Writer
According to documents obtained from local law enforcement data, crime statistics rose in the Village of Oxford throughout last year, while remaining level in Addison Township.
In 2005, the village police had a total of 7,704 service calls from residents. That’s 1,369 more than in 2004.
‘Calls for service are increasing every year,? Oxford Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski said. ‘It just goes with the population increase.?
Neymanowski said the number of juvenile complaints (89), malicious destruction of property or MDOP’s (53) and larcenies (63) all increased in 2005.
To help bring the number of juvenile complaints down this year, Neymanowski said he plans to have some of his officers go to elementary schools to teach the students ‘the police are our friends and not our enemies.?
Traffic problems are also on the back of Neymanowski’s mind for the new year.
His ‘wish list? is to get a radar trailer to help keep speeds lower downtown and possibly look into a traffic light at Broadway and Washington streets.
Oxford Township, on the other hand, has had a decrease in the number of calls. The year 2005 only saw 6,031 calls while 2004 saw 6,368.
Like the village, the township also experienced an increase in larcenies and MDOP’s from 2004’s numbers.
Lieutenant Tom Parker, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s Oxford sub-station, said there were 47 more larcenies in 2005 and only two more MDOP’s, but that not one ‘simple cause? can explain the numbers.
‘Some people have said it’s the product of such things as the economy,? he said. ‘It’s a very easy crime to do. It’s a crime of opportunity.?
Parker said it’s the citizens responsibility to help the numbers of larcenies from an automobile go down.
Criminal/sexual misconducts, drug violations and traffic crashes have all decreased since 2004. No fatal traffic crashes occurred in 2004 or 2005.
The Oxford Fire Department has seen its first drop in yearly calls since 2000.
This year brought 797 medicals and 186 fire calls. Down 73 calls from 2004.
On the other hand, fire runs in Addison Twp. have only slightly increased from last year, according to Fire Chief George Spencer.
Medical runs totaled 320, while fires brought in 140 runs.
‘There was actually a few more fires this year because of the very dry grass fire season we had in April,? Spencer said.
When looked at over a five-year period, Spencer said the township’s calls are increasing at about five percent a year. ‘That does not account for some of the little fluctuations we’ll have,? he said.
Crime in Addison, like with fire/EMS calls, hasn’t had that much of a change since 2004.
The number of criminal sex-related crimes rose to three from two in 2004, while the number of auto thefts dropped from eight to four.
Sgt. Pete Burkett, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Addison sub-station said he ‘hopes this year goes as smoothly as last year.?
Addison’s substation received a total of 2,804 calls in 2005.