Kinston indefinitely postpones releasing annual figures on crime

There might be less crime in Kinston than previous years, as one city official hints, or there might not, but residents will not officially know for a couple of more weeks.

A symposium hosted by the Kinston Department of Public Safety, where annual service statistics are released by its law enforcement and fire and rescue divisions, has been postponed to allow for increased awareness of the event.

Only a dozen people, comprising media and officials of the city and the department, showed up at the yearly review originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Kinston City Council’s chambers.

“We hope to be able to reschedule the symposium for two weeks from now,” Interim Chief Annette Boyd said shortly after seeing the small turnout. “The department has worked hard on this and deserves a bigger audience.”

The seminar, which lasts about an hour, will feature seven presenters from the department’s two divisions sharing 2009 statistics on crime and fire in Kinston, compared to the prior two years, through spot maps and trend analysis.

The KDPS also will discuss its objectives and community projects for the upcoming year at the symposium, which is targeted to take place in the same location and around the same time it was initially calendared.

Kinston City Manager Scott Stevens forecast citizens would be impressed by the numbers.

“We had less crime last year – 2009 was a good year for us,” he said. “As the world was falling apart around us, this was significant for us.”

When randomly questioned Thursday, residents agreed with Stevens’ prediction.

“I would say there has been less crime this year than the previous one,” Tyrone Dixon said. “There may have been more break-ins than murders last year, but altogether there has been less crime.”

Tobey Arnold, who lives near the N.C. Global TransPark off Institute Road, echoed Dixon.

“In my area, I do not believe there has been any more crime,” he said.

KDPS hopes to gather an audience of up to 70 people and plans to advertise the event on TACC-9’s “The Reece Gardner Show” and UNC-TV.

“I think people will find the presentation to be enlightening,” Boyd said. “To us, the information is very valuable. If we never looked at the figures, we would just do the same thing day after day, but because we do look at the figures, we are able to determine areas that have seen an increase in incidents reported.”

In response to last year’s statistics, Boyd said a four-officer “Viper Unit” was formed specifically to concentrate on deterring crime through field interviews and surveillance on blocks hit hard by break-ins, muggings and robberies, which the study showed were the more popular crimes.

So far, the squad has not been used.

Stevens believes the targeted viewership can be attained.

“We generally have a good crowd,” he said. “I do not know if it was not doing a good enough job of getting the word out or if … we were competing with another event, but we will have the symposium and I think we can get an audience similar to those we have had in the past.”

As for residents, they are indifferent about attending the symposium.

“It would interest me to see the official report,” Dixon said. “I may take the time to go by and see.”

Arnold slightly differed.

“I will read about it in the paper, but I do not think I will attend the event,” he said.

Wesley Brown can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wbrown@freedomenc.com.