LAKE COUNTY– Lake County Sheriff”s Department recently published its annual crime report for the year 2009.
The report is currently available on the department”s Web site at www.lakesheriff.com.
The report contains statistical information for selected crimes that were reported to Lake County Sheriff”s deputies during the 2009 calendar year.
“The report does not reflect crime reports or trends in the incorporated areas of Clearlake and Lakeport, nor does it reflect crime reports by other law enforcement agencies operating in the County of Lake such as the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Fish and Game, etc.,” Sheriff Captain Jim Bauman said. “It is noteworthy that in all categories tracked, there is either a downward trend in the amount of crimes reported, or a stabilization of crime reports. All categories show an overall decrease since 2005.”
According to Captain Bauman, in reviewing the statistics from the 2008 annual report, it was discovered that there was an error in the stated percentage change of violent crimes during the year 2008 as compared to the year 2007.
He said the number of violent crimes reported in 2007 (469) and 2008 (503) was found to be accurate. However, the difference in these amounts (an increase of 61) is an increase of 13 percent.
The 2008 report indicates the difference as a 22 percent increase, which Captain Bauman said is incorrect.
“The sheriff”s department would like to clarify this discrepancy and apologizes for any confusion this may have caused,” Captain Bauman said.
According to Sheriff Rodney Mitchell, the report does not cover all of the 5,802 total documented crimes or incidents reported to his office between Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009.
He said the statistics included in the report have been determined to be the most frequently and commonly occurring crimes within the jurisdiction of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office.
According to the report, there was an 11 percent decrease in violent crimes and a 15 percent decrease in drug/alcohol crimes within the sheriff”s area of jurisdiction.
No significant changes were seen in the areas of property crimes and sex crimes.
