Protecting and Serving the Dixfield community.

During the year 2003, the Dixfield Police Department saw a large number of changes operationally. These include a 3-month period of manpower reduction, a high level of sick-leave usage and eventually a return to a 4-man staff from the 3-man staff imposed during the second quarter of the year. We are thankful to have hired another young man to fill the fourth position which had remained vacant for almost 18 months.

 

During the second quarter, Chief Pickett, Ptl. Jeff Howe and Ptl. Mark Dow worked a rotating schedule that did not provide for all-night patrols. However, it did provide for one of the three officers to respond to any call, especially those of an emergency nature.

 

In spite of all of the irregularities, 2003 saw a significant increase in overall police activity. In fact, the total calls for service in 2003 was more than double those of 2001 and triple those of 1998. The graph shown previously illustrates the steadily increasing demand on police services over the past six years.

 

Dixfield Police officers concentrated efforts on security functions once again. Consequently, the volume of activity that can be attributed to security check activity was a significantly higher percentage of all activity. Also,  there may be a correlation between the increased security functions and property crimes. Overall reports of property crimes reduced significantly during the same period of time.

 

Burglaries, a regular source of frustration for the residents of Dixfield and its police force alike, were on the decline last year. In fact, they hit a five-year low at a total of only 22 burglaries reported.

 

Like with burglary, vandalism complaints also dropped during 2003. This is very encouraging since the past several years have been plagued with quite a few reports of this nature.

 

The number of Domestic Assaults reported during 2003 was also the lowest level in five years. 2001 was a close second with only one more report during that year than we had in 2003. The extra security activity probably had no bearing on this change. In fact, we don’t have any idea what to attribute this change to.

 

Actually, awareness of domestic violence as a real problem in our community is very low. During interviews conducted in the past couple of years, most of those interviewed did not believe that we have a domestic violence problem in Dixfield.

 

Incidents involving Disorderly Conduct and/or Prowlers (Suspicious persons or activities) have also dropped to their 5-year low. At a count of 54, 2003 was lower than 1999 and 2000 which weighed in at 58 each. Since a majority of these complaints come in at night, the additional security functions performed by members of the Department may have played a role in these reductions.

 

Finally, the perception often is that police stop cars and write tickets. During 2003, DPD wrote fewer summonses for traffic infractions than in any of the previous four years. At the same time, the number of warnings issued for traffic violations increased to the highest level in the same time period. How’s that for a break!

 

A careful review of the numbers for 2004 gives the appearance that the crime rate was reduced. We have no direct evidence as to the cause of any such reduction.

 

If you desire additional information regarding the activity of the Dixfield Police Department, please contact Chief Pickett by phone at 562-4517 or via email at magnum@megalink.net.