Violent crime at 5-year low in Rohnert Park

<p>Crime in Rohnert Park rose slightly in 2009, driven by an increase in property crimes. But violent crimes dropped to the lowest levels in five years, according to a review of each of the city's crime categories.</p><p>Property crimes climbed to 910 from 783 the previous year. Violent crimes totaled 205, slightly down from 213 the previous year and from 323 in 2005.</p><p>Robbery, burglary, and larceny theft all increased in 2009. Categories that dropped include rape, aggravated assault and vehicle theft. There were no murders in 2009, compared to two in 2008.</p><p>In all, there were 1,115 violent and property crimes recorded in Rohnert Park in 2009, up 11 percent from the 996 reported in 2008, which was an all-time low.</p><p>The increase takes on an extra significance as Rohnert Park confronts a widening budget deficit and loudly contested proposals to cut public safety positions.</p><p>"We know from the science of criminology that a small percentage of the population commits a high percentage of the crime," said Public Safety Director Brian Masterson. "Without that unit, we lose the ability to target the people who commit the most crimes," he said of pressure to eliminate positions.</p><p>Rohnert Park public safety officials -- the department combines both police and fire services -- trace both the 2008 lows and the 2009 overall increase to manpower.</p><p>"When we were at an all-time low, we were fully staffed," with 50 officers," said Public Safety Lt. Jeff Taylor. "Now we're down bodies and we're starting to go up."</p><p>In 2009, budget cuts reduced the size of the force by seven sworn officers and three community service officers.</p><p>Still, 2009 crime levels represent a marked improvement over 2005, when there were 323 violent crimes and 1,214 property crimes, a total of 1,537 crimes in these categories.</p><p>That drop, which has been followed by four subsequent years of stable year-to-year crime levels, coincided with the creation in 2004 of a special enforcement unit.</p><p>The unit, composed of three officers and one sergeant, focuses on career criminals, parolees and investigations.</p><p>The unit is funded by the Graton Rancheria, an Indian tribe that wants to build a casino in the city and has given $2.95 million to the unit since 2004.</p><p>Anecdotal reports that residents feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of where it falls on a chart of where crime occurs in the city, is encouraging, Taylor said.</p><p>"I take pride in that," he said, "That's a positive sign, because they don't have the statistics.</p><p>"If people are mentioning that the crime is not high, even if the statistics are actually higher, that means the overall numbers are not high," he said.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 521-5212 or jeremy.hay@pressdemocrat.com.</p>