Violent Crime Spikes In Long Valley: 2016 FBI Report

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Violent crime spiked in Washington Township (Morris) between 2015 and 2016, according to new data released by the FBI.

In 2016, there were 16 violent crimes reported in Washington Township: two rapes and 14 aggravated assaults. That's a large increase from the year before, when only two violent crimes were reported (one rape and one robbery).

This level of reported crime is unusual in Washington Township, which has generally reported low crime levels over the past decade. Between 2006 and 2016 there has been, on average, seven violent crimes reported each year. 2015 and 2013 had the lowest amount (two each), and 2008 had the highest (13).

When asked about the spike in crimes, Washington Township Police Lt. Douglas Compton said he wasn't sure the reason.

"I do not have an explanation as to why these types of event occurred in 2016 within Washington Township. As a police department we respond to all cases and document them accordingly," Douglas told Patch.

Here's a breakdown of violent crime over the past ten years in Washington Township (a full breakdown of crime in 2016 can be found below):

• 2016: 16 crimes: two rapes, 14 aggravated assaults
• 2015: 2 crimes: 1 rape, 1 robbery
• 2014: 7 crimes: aggravated assault
• 2013: 2 crimes: 2 aggravated assault
• 2012: 4 crimes: 1 robbery, 3 aggravated assaults
• 2011: 10 crimes: 1 robbery, 9 aggravated assault
• 2010: 7 crimes: 1 forceable rape, 6 aggravated assaults
• 2009: 7 crimes: 7 aggravated assault
• 2008: 13 crimes: 13 aggravated assault
• 2007: 10 crimes: 1 rape, 1 robbery, 1 aggravated assault
• 2006: 8 crimes: aggravated assault

The information comes from the FBI’s annual report Crime in the United States. The publication is a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, according to the FBI.

Nationally, the FBI said the 2016 statistics showed an increase in the estimated number of violent crimes, with a 4.1 percent rise when compared with 2015 data. Nationally, property crimes dropped 1.3 percent.

The 2016 statistics show the estimated rate of violent crime was 386.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants nationally, and the estimated rate of property crime was 2,450.7 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate rose 3.4 percent compared with the 2015 rate, and the property crime rate declined 2.0 percent.

The UCR Program report for 2016 included information from 16,782 agencies across the country, out of 18,481 city, county, university and college, state, tribal, and federal agencies eligible to participate, the FBI said.

Washington Township (Morris)

• Population: 18,696
• Violent crime (total): 16
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 2
• Robbery: 0
• Aggravated Assault: 14
• Property Crime (total): 37
• Burglary: 6
• Larceny-Theft: 32
• Motor Vehicle Theft: 0
• Arson: 0

Image via Morguefile

With reporting by Karen Wall (Patch Staff)