News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crime across the Upper Cumberland during the stay at home order significantly decreased compared to last year.
Cookeville Police Department compared crime statistics from March through April from 2019 to 2020. Captain Bobby Anderson said overall, crime decreased by 39 percent. But some specific crimes increased.
“Verbal domestics have increased by six percent, and we have had an increase in assault cases as well,” Anderson said. “Our property crimes have decreased with the exception of mobile vehicle theft, which has increased about 27 percent compared to last year.”
Anderson said calls for service also decreased 41 percent.
Sparta Police compared the last three months to last year’s numbers. Chief Doug Goff said their crime rates also decreased about 86 percent during the stay at home order.
“Stats on several different crimes such as narcotics, larceny, assaults and things of that nature seem to all be down approximately 80 to 85 percent,” Goff said.
But calls have increased by 28 percent. Goff said the majority of the calls are nonviolent and officers resolve the issue over the phone. Goff expects a steady increase of crime as facilities begin to reopen.
Both police departments said the amount of automobile collisions also decreased. The decrease in crime is a result of the say at home order and businesses remaining closed.
