Crime Increase

I wrote the following article on local crime and gun-use for one of my classes at USF. Rich Nugent, Rick Hankins and Pete Resnick were a tremendous help to me with their input and I justed wanted to say thanks!

In this stagnant economy, local law enforcement officials have reported an increase in crime, without a significant climb in gun-related incidents.

Even though the local gun shop in Brooksville reported an increase in gun sales, city police and the sheriff’s uniform crime report do not indicate an increase in firearm incidents during this recession. The sheriff’s department noted a rise in construction-related thefts, with a dramatic increase in burglaries and theft, related to local pharmacies. The primary cause of death in the county was related to prescription drug abuse, according to the medical examiner. Records show an increase in suicide-attempts during this economic slump, with a noted decrease in domestic violence.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Department and the city of Brooksville annually complete uniform crime reports, or UCR that contain data on unlawful activity in the community. The International Association of Chiefs of Police began the process of “uniform crime reporting” in 1929. According the FBI, these reports provide a similar way of gathering statistical documentation for annual publications. The national reports have input by over 17,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States, including those in Hernando County.

“Based on our UCR report, there was a 10 percent increase in robberies but aggravated assault, stalking and manslaughter decreased,” said Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent when asked if their department had seen an increase in crimes related to guns. “We did have one more murder in 2008 but it did not involve a firearm.”

Brooksville Police reports show a similar crime trend in the city that has evolved from the slow economy. Thefts and burglaries have increased within the city while violent crimes, involving the use of firearms have decreased, according to police.

“Historically, city crime statistics are fairly balanced from year to year but violent crime has decreased in this recession while theft and burglaries have increased approximately 20 percent.” said Brooksville Detective Rick Hankins. “Gun crimes are not an issue for us in the city but thefts of guns during burglaries are up.”

The Hernando County Sheriff’s office released statistical data, related to a class of crime they have labeled “unique to the economy” which involves theft of construction materials that can be sold for scrap metal. During this current economic climate, officials have seen an increase in theft reports of copper and air conditioner parts. An increase in gasoline thefts of approximately $4,000 has also been reported to officials. The sheriff’s department estimated a combined-loss for construction related thefts and gasoline to be $259,703.90 for a 7-month period.

Domestic battery and domestic violence reports peaked during 2005, with a combined total of 2,341 incidents, according to the county uniform crime report. In 2008, Hernando County experienced a combined 25.5 percent decline in domestic violence and domestic battery complaints compared to 2005, according to the UCR.

Pete Resnick, owner of Bull’s Eye Gun Shop in downtown Brooksville has seen an increase in handgun sales. Resnick attributes this spike in sales to the rise in property crimes, associated with the poor economy and the high unemployment in the county.

“The average law-abiding citizen has less faith in law enforcement’s ability to prevent property crime.” Resnick said. “Home invasion is a crime feared by most homeowners and small business owners.”

Resnick said that his customer base is a cross-section of upper middle-class individuals who are largely defined by the economics of guns. “I do not sell inexpensive, personal-protection weapons,” Resnick said.

Resnick has noticed an increase in female customers in his shop whom he says are often seen as easy targets by criminals. “Women have started to buy more guns as function of fear, or just wanting to be prepared,” Resnick said.

“Ammunition and small personal guns, together with assault rifles, are in short supply because the demand has skyrocketed,” Resnick said. “Every time the Democrats are in power, many people think their right to gun-ownership will be impaired.” Resnick described his increase in gun and ammunition sales as a “better get it while I can” syndrome.

In the last four years, suicide attempts in Hernando County increased 32 percent, according to public records. In 2005, Hernando County reported 112 suicide attempts, compared to 157 in 2008. Officials also reported a four percent increase in Baker Act incarcerations. The “Baker Act” is used by law enforcement to detain individuals temporarily to complete mental-health evaluations of suspects.

Pharmacies in the county have seen the sharpest increase in crime during this recession. The sheriff’s department reported that burglaries at local pharmacies jumped 300 percent in 2008. Robberies at pharmacies have been reported to have increased 33 percent since 2005. The sheriff’s department also reported a 300 percent increase in prescription-fraud from 2005 to 2008.

The Hernando County Medical Examiner’s office has recorded a 21 percent increase in drug-related deaths from prescription drug overdose. In 2008, 47 drug-related deaths were recorded by the medical examiner in the county. Forty-five of these drug-related deaths were ruled accidental while 2 were deemed to be suicide by county medical examiner records. The highest number of drug-related deaths occurred in white males, with an average age of 45-years old, according to records. Oxycodone overdose, along with a combined drug toxicity mix, was cited in this report as the major cause of death.

In response to the misuse of prescription drugs, the Hernando County sheriff’s office conducted “Operation Medicine Cabinet” in March to collect expired, unused, or unwanted prescription medications. According to their reports, 376 people dropped off 3,904 bottles of prescription drugs. Sheriff’s spokesman said this operation was a method for citizens to properly dispose of unused portions of prescription medications.

Public safety, and the safety of Hernando County deputies, was cited by the sheriff as his primary concern, as he faces the possibility of additional reductions to his budget in this recession. “In the last 3 budget cycles, we have not increased the number of employees even though the population of the county continues to increase,” Nugent said. “As you can see, our crime rate is up and we believe it is directly related to the economy.”