Overall Crimes Down in Enumclaw Though 2011 Reflected Spike in Violent Incidents

Despite a noticeable increase in what the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considers violent crimes in 2011, Enumclaw has seen a steady decrease in all Part I crimes since 2003.

According to numbers the FBI released Monday in its annual Crime in the United States report for American cities, property crimes including burglaries, larceny/theft, motor vehicle thefts and arson have dropped in Enumclaw in the last seven years.

Enumclaw Police data corroborates the decrease not only with property crimes but with all Part I crimes. While in 2003, there were 525 Part I crimes recorded, that number has dropped to 403 in 2011.

Part I crimes include violent crimes such as homicide, manslaughter, assault, rape and robbery.

Violent Crimes Up

However, while the category of Part I crimes is trending downward, 2011 saw an uptick in violent crimes, with 15 instances recorded by the FBI, which was up from six in 2010. Enumclaw Police data shows one homicide, four instances of rape and three felony assaults in 2011 where only two instances of rape were logged in 2010.

"Although these increases are small numbers, they do impact significantly on the citizens they represent," said Enumclaw Police Capt. Bob Huebler. The numbers can only indicate that a crime has happened, he said, while the question of how it impacts its victims and the community cannot be conveyed through data like this.

Many factors can impact crime, and certainly a lagging economy hasn't helped in recent years where frustration may start at the family level. Someone might not be able to find work or have enough money, and it develops into shorter tempers. People may act out in ways they normally wouldn't if things were well and basic needs were met, Huebler said.

"Overall, we as a community are fairing as good as could be expected given the national scope," he said, noting the lower Part I crime numbers. "Our goal is still to reduce everything [all crimes]."

New Chief, New Equipment, Full Staff

Huebler attributes several factors to the decreasing numbers, including the leadership of Police Chief Jim Zoll, who started with the department in 2005, as well as a lot of technological advancements both on the part of officers and the public.

In-car computers have changed some of the ways law enforcement does business, he said. The east of use of digital photography and cameras have helped to deter crimes.

In 2012 through August, the city's recorded two rapes, four arsons, and two felony assaults/domestic violence under the violent crimes category. 

However the year wraps up, Huebler said the department is looking forward to 2013, the city's centennial year, with a full staff. One new police recruit has just completed the police academy after the officer's position was unfrozen, and two more are set to finish in January to fill positions vacated with the passing of Sgt. Steve Robinson and the removal of former Lt. Eric Sortland.

By the Numbers

Enumclaw Police Department Crime Numbers

PART ONE CRIMES

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Homicide

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Manslaughter

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Vehicular Homicide

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Vehicular Manslaughter

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Vehicular Assault

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Rape

4

4

4

4

2

2

3

2

4

Robbery

0

1

3

0

2

1

1

2

2

Child Molestation

3

1

1

1

1

1

8

1

1

Arson

7

2

7

15

13

3

2

1

2

Felony Assault

2

3

0

0

1

0

5

0

3

Felony Assault DV

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

Assault

41

49

45

56

56

55

64

48

48

Assault DV

48

47

46

47

36

60

49

35

48

Residential Burglary

18

29

39

25

34

22

17

24

41

Commercial Burglary

21

29

33

26

10

18

25

25

15

Thefts/Larceny

304

309

254

241

231

220

219

228

217

Motor Vehicle Theft

76

104

80

60

39

27

12

27

21

TOTAL

525

578

512

475

425

409

405

394

403

Provided by Enumclaw Police

FBI Numbers for Enumclaw

Year

Violent
crime

Murder and
nonnegligent
manslaughter

Forcible
rape

Robbery

Aggravated
assault

Property
crime

Burglary

Larceny-
theft

Motor
vehicle
theft

Arson

2011

15

1

5

2

7

279

55

204

20

2

2010

6

0

2

2

2

297

49

224

24

1

2009

9

0

2

1

6

267

42

213

12

2

2008

2

0

0

1

1

274

39

210

25

2

2007

7

0

0

2

5

285

41

208

36

16

2006

5

0

4

0

1

326

50

219

57

14

2005

8

0

4

3

1

394

69

252

73

5

Compiled from the FBI's Crime in the United States reports (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011)

Editor's Note: While the FBI simply compiles the information as it is provided from local jurisdictions, some numerical discrepancies still exist due to the nature of how incidents are reported. Some incidents that Enumclaw Police might record under one category could fall under several when reported to Uniform Crime Report (UCR), en route to the FBI database, explained Huebler.