Rising Crime Numbers Prompts New Claremont Police Hire

Claremont Police are planning to hire a new detective they said will help the department cope with the impending closure of Pomona's Superior Court and free up detectives who are dealing with a rising number of crimes in the city.

City Council members approved a part-time officer Feb. 12. The detective would be tasked with handling court filings at Pomona, if it continues to hear cases, and the West Covina Superior Court - where cases will be moved in the event of the closure.

If time allows, the part-time investigator would also help track crime statistics and monitor parolees and those on probation, said Claremont Police Capt. Jon Traber.

“This would relieve the full-time detectives from filing criminal cases at two different courthouses and provide them with additional investigative time,”  Traber told the council during the Feb. 12 council meeting.

Police officials said detectives have found themselves busier over the last few months dealing with a string of burglaries and break-ins. Traber told the council the city experienced a 7 percent increase in the total number of what they call part one crimes in 2012. A total of 947 part one crimes – the more serious crimes that are more likely to be reported - were reported. A total of 887 part one crimes were reported

“Our experience, based on arrests, is that our crime rate is being impacted by the changes made to our criminal justice system following the implementation of Assembly Bill 109,” said Traber who read some of his report to the council on Feb. 12.

AB 109 is a state law enacted to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that required that the prison population be cut by some 32,000 prisoners.

The bill allows non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offenders to serve out sentences in county jails instead of state prisons. County agencies report that the local jails are overburdened, forcing local officials to shorten sentences for non-violent offenders in some cases.

“These statistics are always just numbers but of course when a crime does occur it doesn’t matter, (people) are just very upset,” said councilman Sam Pedroza before voting in favor of the recommendation along with his fellow councilmen. While the crime numbers are still relatively low in the city compared to others, any increase in crime can be detrimental.