The numbers are in and 2023 was a busy year for the Greencastle Police Department when it comes to calls for service and other law enforcement related matters.
According to data, Greencastle Police responded to 5,632 calls for service, took part in 2,387 traffic stops, had 405 arrests and worked 386 traffic crashes last year. While the numbers may seem high, Greencastle Police Chief Chris Jones says they are close to where the numbers were prior to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
"Our enforcement, traffic stops and arrests, are back to those years as well (steep climb) and that is really about Officers (fully staffed) feeling more comfortable getting back to dealing with people up close and likewise, the same with the community as a whole is getting more comfortable with personal interaction. So, I just see it as our community is starting to get back to a more normal pace and interaction in life, as well as our Officers (fully staffed)," Jones told The Putnam County Post.
Jones said in the new year he and his officers will continue keeping Greencastle safe and a place everyone can go out and not be worried about their safety.
"That is our goal and we take pride in it. It is tough to stay ahead of the constant criminal activity that makes its way our direction from the big city east of us. Criminals are constantly changing their tactics and in general people have bad days where they do something that gets them caught up in the legal system. We try to educate and work as much as we can with the community, so that we can be where the problems are flaring up before anything bad happens. By being proactive, and going out looking for the issues, we can get to them much sooner than just being reactive to the situation once things go south," Jones said.
In order to do that, Jones said his department will aim to reduce crime, especially drug activity, as well as enforcing traffic laws in order to get people to slow down and avoid traffic accidents. Furthermore, Jones said his department will work to keep schools safe and free of crime, as well as working to keep officers healthy and safe.
Jones noted recruiting and retention are a major focus in police departments.
"We just hired a new officer and we need to get her up to speed and out there as soon as we can so that we are back to being fully staffed. Keeping the great Officers we have and not losing them to a nearby agency with higher pay and benefits is a constant challenge. Since hiring pools are down across the state, keeping the officers you have is critical, since there is a high demand for lateral experienced Officers statewide. Keeping the Officers here supplied with the best technology and equipment we can afford is also important. My job is to take care of the Officers so that they can take care of the City to the best of their abilities," said Jones, who added eventually, his department will need a bigger space to operate out of.
