Editor’s note: You can’t revitalize with high crime. Glad to see the Chief is being proactive before crime returns to dangerous levels!
The number of homicides and shooting victims in Reading, which had dropped from 2001 to 2009, began to pick up again in the past three years, Police Chief William M. Heim told City Council during budget talks Monday.
Heim said part of the reason for the increase is fewer patrol officers and criminal investigators due to city budget cuts the past three years.
However, he and acting Capt. Madison Winchester said they believe that, with two dozen new officers coming out of training late this year, the crime numbers will start to drop again in 2013.
Dividing the time from 2001 to 2012 into four periods, Heim said major crimes dropped from a high of 7,268 in 2001-03 to 5,984 in 2010-12, although this year isn’t yet over.
Roy's Rants - For Your Information 