Many crimes are down in Arlington. Police cite new thinking

Published 1:30 am Saturday, February 23, 2019

ARLINGTON — The city of Arlington is reporting fewer crimes than in the past few years.

From 2016 to 2018, vehicle theft is down 40 percent, theft is down 15 percent, burglary is down 13 percent, shoplifting is down 11 percent and malicious mischief is down 16 percent, according to data provided by the city.

Police Chief Jonathan Ventura believes the shift is because of a change in philosophy. Rather than “chasing our tails” responding to 911 calls, he said, the department has done more to work with people.

“The biggest thing affecting crime rates is going out there, intervening, being a presence in the community,” he said.

Officers are attending public meetings and serving on boards. Social workers embedded with law enforcement are going to homeless encampments and connecting people with services. And the department’s “All In” campaign has bolstered relationships with businesses and Neighborhood Watch groups.

“We’re pushing the outreach in so many different ways it can’t help but make a positive difference,” Ventura said.

Not every category has seen a drop, though. For example, domestic violence crimes went up 4 percent.

Ventura wants to address that. Starting January, the department contracted with Bridge Coordination Services to provide a domestic violence coordinator. The coordinator will immediately follow up with domestic violence calls and address the needs of victims, rather than waiting for the court system to sort everything out.

There was also a 100 percent increase in sexual assault, from 13 cases in 2017 to 26 in 2018. Ventura said that number, though surprising, tracks with what other departments are seeing. The sharp rise is possibly the result of more people reporting because of movements such as #MeToo.

Ventura said he has a lot of goals for the department. The biggest one, he said, is to re-establish an anti-crime team — officers who are taken off routine 911 calls and given bigger projects. They’ll address the “people preying on the community and causing the most damage,” he said. That could include known gang members and felons, as well as nuisance properties.

That unit could come together as soon as this summer, but it depends on staffing.

Other than that, Ventura said, he plans to strengthen outreach efforts.

“If we see success,” he said, “let’s keep doing what we think is successful.”

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan @heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.