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For the first time the police departments of all three cities in Medina County are represented in the FBI’s annual “Uniform Crime Reports” — the nation’s official tally of violent and property crimes.
The latest report, which covers 2013 and was released last week, includes statistics from the cities of Brunswick, Medina and Wadsworth, as well as the police departments in the townships of Brunswick Hills, Hinckley, Medina and Montville and the village of Lodi.
The Wadsworth Police Department is the only city in the county to appear in every report, going back to 1995.
Brunswick was included in the 2011 report but city officials complained that at least one of the numbers — the total of aggravated assaults — was wildly off. Brunswick was not included in the 2012 report.
Until this year, Medina’s police department never was in the report.
Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell, who served as the city’s police chief from 1996 to 2009, has said he never submitted data to the FBI because of concerns over the system used to classify crimes.
But Medina began reporting data in May 2012 using a new software that aimed to better standardize the classification of crimes.
“I felt that was important because people here in Medina should have a gauge to get a handle on what’s going on,” Police Chief Patrick Berarducci said. “These statistics give us a frame of reference.”
According to the new report, none of the Medina County cities had more than 20 violent crimes — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — in 2013.
“These are very low numbers in terms of violent crimes, and I think that’s got to do with our aggressive dealing with drugs and heroin,” Berarducci said.
Compared to similar-sized cities in other counties, Medina County’s cities report substantially fewer violent crimes.
Cities such as Shaker Heights in Cuyahoga County, Barberton in Summit County and Wooster in Wayne County — all with similar populations to Medina — reported 40 or more violent crimes.
None of the other departments in Medina County reported more than five violent crimes.
Berarducci said Medina’s crime probably would be even lower if not for events like the Medina County Fair and the many events on Public Square hosted by Main Street Medina.
“Those are good for business, but it’s not necessarily good for crime,” he said, because the events draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Berarducci commended Medina’s residents on helping police keep crime low.
“We have a partnership with the people of Medina, and that’s the key to keeping crime down,” the chief said. “I’m really happy where we’re at.”
Other police officials agreed that community involvement is the key to low crime rates.
“We ask that the community keep telling us when they see suspicious things,” said Montville police Lt. Matt Neil. “That one thing that may seem odd to a resident — it may seem insignificant, but it may be the key we need to solve another crime.”
Montville Township’s crime numbers were among the lowest in the county, and Neil said that’s because police there work to keep high visibility.
“We focus a majority of our policing in the neighborhoods,” he said. “When you see a black-and-white car, and you’re driving through that neighborhood looking to do no good, you’re going to think twice.”
Additionally, Neil said the local homeowner associations stay alert for crime and keep police informed when they spot something suspicious.
Among the township and village police departments, Medina Township was notable for reporting 180 thefts — three times as many as other townships.
Police Chief David Arbogast said that’s because of the big-box stores in the township’s business district.
“Wal-Mart and Kohl’s are our two big places for theft offenses,” he said. “The residential subdivisions are much less affected by property crimes.”
According to the FBI report, Medina Township reported only 10 burglaries and one vehicle theft.
“If the FBI broke out the residential neighborhoods from our commercial districts, I think this report would look significantly different,” Arbogast said.
Lodi police, who reported the fewest property crimes in the county, warned against leaving cars unlocked because that’s where most of the village’s crime originates.
Property crimes include burglary, theft, vehicle theft and arson. No police department reported more than two arsons.
Lodi reported 53 property crimes — 48 of which were thefts.
“We try to let the people know not to let their things stay in their cars overnight because people are stealing from unlocked cars and houses,” Lodi Police Chief Keith Keough said. “Some of it might be juveniles wanting change to get change for cigarettes, and other times it’s a drug problem, where people are stealing things in order to buy drugs.”
Other police departments, like Hinckley Township, cautioned that some of the statistics may be misleading.
The township reported two rapes and 64 property crimes, but Chief Tim Kalavsky said he wasn’t sure it was accurate to draw conclusions from the data.
“We had two rapes reported, sure, but I don’t know that those came out to be convictions or not,” he said, “so I don’t know that it’s accurate to say we had two rapes here.”
Still, he said he was glad the report showed low numbers in the township.
“I like to think of it as good news,” Kalavsky said.
Brunswick Hills Township, which reported no violent crime and 87 property crimes, had similar concerns.
“The numbers might be off because they could have been closed or found to be unfounded out since we reported,” Lt. Tim Sopkovich said. “It does change. Once it goes to the prosecutor’s office, they might tell us to reduce charges or throw them out.”
Additionally, he said the FBI report leaves out many types of crime, including domestic assault.
A number of communities in Medina County also are not represented in the report: There are no statistics from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, which provides police protection for most of the county’s 17 townships.
The police departments of three villages — Seville, Spencer and Westfield Center — also are not included in the report.
Contact reporter Nick Glunt at (330) 721-4048 or nglunt@medina-gazette.com. Follow him on Twitter @ngfalcon.
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