MONTGOMERY: Police see rise in calls

By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — Efforts to increase traffic enforcement have coincided with a drop in the number of accidents from 2009 to 2010, according to police Lt. James Curry.
   The drop in accidents went from 779 in 2009 to 661 in 2010, Lt. Curry told the Montgomery Township Committee at its meeting on Jan. 20. The number of stops made by the Police Department nearly doubled from 2009 to 2010, from 4,948 to 8,288, he said.
   ”The Police Department has stepped up traffic enforcement,” Lt. Curry said. “Increased traffic enforcement equates to increased visibility. It was our objective, and is our belief this exposed enforcement action has had an impact on both crime and motor vehicle crashes resulting in a reduction in both.”
   The number of calls for service increased dramatically year over year, from 14,764 to 20,196, he said.
   ”Each motor vehicle stop equates to a call for service, thus roughly half of the increased calls for service was actually generated by the Police Department and its proactive efforts,” Lt. Curry said.
   The report showed a substantial increase in burglaries year over year, from 14 in 2009 to 36 in 2010, he said, but he did not have an explanation for the increase.
   There was also an increase in domestic violence — 55 in 2009 and 64 in 2010.
   Serious crimes showed a 24.5 percent increase over 2009. However, 2009 had a 33 percent decrease from 2008.