Idaho Mountain Express: Crime rate up in Blaine County

Friday, July 5, 2013

Crime rate up in Blaine County

State report shows 2012 increase of 8.7 percent

By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Information in a newly released Idaho State Police “Crime in Idaho” report shows that the number of serious crimes in Blaine County increased in 2012 for the first time in three years. Express graphic by Kristen Kaiser

After three years in decline, the crime rate in Blaine County increased 8.7 percent in 2012. Statewide, the crime rate was down last year 1.5 percent.
   The information is from the Idaho State Police annual report “Crime in Idaho” that was released on Tuesday. Information in the report is compiled from data provided by individual law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
   The crime rate is calculated from what the report deems “Group A” offenses, which are considered the more serious offenses and are crimes against society, people or property.
   Statewide, ISP reported that violent crime was actually up over 2011 by 5.2 percent. However, that increase was offset by decreases in other Group A offenses. There were 27 murders reported in Idaho in 2012.
   Blaine County had one murder in 2012. It occurred in Bellevue with a murder-suicide in February of that year. After an investigation, the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office determined that former Bellevue Mayor Jon Anderson shot himself after shooting his ex-wife Linda Vaughn.
   The ISP report shows Group A offenses in Blaine County at 586 in 2012, compared to 539 in 2011. There were 661 Group A offenses in 2010, 688 in 2009, and 903 in 2008.
   A three-year crime rate decline in Blaine County coincided with the start of the economic recession. Law enforcement officers have attributed the decline mainly to fewer people, particularly transient workers, in the county because of the recession.
   Of the 586 Group A Offenses in 2012, the report shows that 319 were “cleared.”
   The most common Group A offense committed last year was vandalism, with 126 reports. Second was larceny with 118 reports, while third was aggravated assault with 65 cases. There were 60 reports of burglary, 50 reports of simple assault and 44 cases involving drugs or narcotics.
   There were five sex crimes reported in 2012.
   While not considered a Group A offense, the report shows that there were 133 DUI arrests in the county in 2012.
   The crime rate, as determined by Group A offenses, varied widely with Blaine County’s five police agencies.
   For cases investigated by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, the rate was down 5.1 percent. The Bellevue Marshal’s Office reported an increased crime rate of 6.7 percent. The Hailey Police Department showed an increase of 9.8 percent. The Ketchum Police Department showed an increase of 31.3 percent, while the Sun Valley Police Department showed a decrease of 16.7 percent.
   The crime rate as determined in the ISP report does not necessarily mean that crime is up in a given municipality. Numbers can sometimes be skewed by inaccurate reporting by police agencies. Accurate reporting, compared from one year to the next, can actually show that the crime rate was up when in reality the difference was better reporting.
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