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Crime rate inches up for Hernando
By DUANE BOURNE BROOKSVILLE -- Crime in Hernando County rose 2.1 percent during 2002 -- bucking a statewide trend in which the crime rate dropped more than 3 percent during the same time last year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Sheriff's Office reported 25 percent more arrests in 2002. Sheriff Richard Nugent credited "putting more bad guys in jail" with increases in population, the opening of the Suncoast Parkway and a relatively stagnant economy. "We are becoming more proactive," said Nugent, explaining that the increase is evident in the crowding at the Hernando County jail. "Obviously, this shows that we are being productive out there." Overall, Florida's crime rate fell in 2002, hitting a 30-year low, said Tim Moore, head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Florida's crime rate in general has been falling in recent years. "I remember in the 1990s, we had double-digit increases in our crime rate," Moore said. Florida's overall crime rate dropped 3.3 percent between 2001 and 2002, but the number of murders went up slightly. Last year, there were 867 murders in Florida. This year, there were 906. One in four violent crimes was the result of domestic violence, Moore said. Countywide, the rate of domestic violence dropped 3.4 percent during 2002. Nugent attributed the decrease to the domestic violence court and programs offered by the Dawn Center, the county's only domestic violence shelter. Brooksville witnessed subtle decreases in crime with the rate dropping 3.6 percent during 2002. The violent crime category with the largest decrease was aggravated assault, which fell 24.2 percent from 99 to 75 reported cases between 2001 and 2002. Brooksville Police Chief Ed Tincher said the statistics could be misleading given Brooksville's size and the prominence of crimes such as grand theft, murder, which did not change. Grand theft increased from 20 to 32 reported cases during 2002, an increase of 60 percent. "We could have a 100 percent increase in homicides if we had two murders last year instead of none," Tincher said. "It's a snapshot in time. I think increases reflect patterns or perhaps anomalies, rather than represent an ongoing pattern of events in the community." However, his police department won't overlook the numbers. 'It's like a planning guide or a road map to better influence our response to the people in our community," Tincher said. -- Duane Bourne covers law enforcement and emergency services in Hernando County and can be reached at 754-6114. Send e-mail to dbourne@sptimes.com.
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