It’s always good news when the crime rate drops.
Normal police say calls for service were down 15 percent in the first two months of 2009 compared to a year ago.
Also down were total crimes (-2.6%), arrests (-14.4%), armed robberies (-50%), robberies (-20%), thefts (-36%), and reports of criminal property damage (-26%) compared to Jan.-Feb. 2008 crime figures.
We are even driving better in 2009. Traffic accidents were down 9.2% compared to the same two-month period last year.
Normal police received 9,417 calls for service the first two months of the year, a level not seen since 2005.
Everyone breathed a little easier Feb. 24 when Normal police made the high profile arrest of an accused rapist.
This sketch turned out to be pretty accurate after all.
McLean County prosecutors have charged 17 year-old Joseph Primm with sexually assualting a woman Feb. 12 in her apartment on West Hovey and with beating another woman a week later in a home invasion on Cardinal Court.
Looking ahead to the warm weather months, police are working with the managers of the three largest apartment complexes on West Orlando. Each of the complexes are again giving police the green light to arrest trespassers who have been banned from their properties.
Coupled with increased patrols, arresting trespassers has been an effective tool in keeping a lid on things in that neighborhood.
Police plan to be visible again when Fairview Pool opens for the summer. And a group of community volunteers will take to the trail this spring in a program designed to improve safety for users of Constitution Trail.
Just About Normal 