Crime numbers drop in Costa Mesa

Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- Although crime continued to decrease overall, the city

experienced a nearly 9% increase in violent crimes between 1998 and 1999,

with noticeable jumps in murder and forcible rapes, according to state

figures released Wednesday.

The city joined some of its larger Orange County neighbors -- Santa Ana

and Anaheim -- in experiencing a small spike in violent crime.

There were four murders in Costa Mesa last year, all resulting from two

highly publicized events. All of the victims were children, three of whom

were under the age of 5.

Forcible rape incidents also shot up from 17 in 1998 to 29 last year. The

two categories, along with robbery and aggravated assault, comprise the

state’s violent crimes section.

Despite the increase in violent crime, the overall picture looked rosy

for the city. Crime dropped by 8.6% overall compared to 1998.

Although the numbers reflect a downward spiral, the increase in murder

and rapes should be put into perspective, authorities said.

“A vast majority of the rapes reported were either date rapes or where

the assailant knew the victim,” said Costa Mesa Police Lt. John

FitzPatrick. “That in no way diminishes the impact on the victim, but

when people hear the word ‘rape’ they typically think of a stranger

lurking in the bushes. That typically hasn’t been the case here.”

The statistics were released on Wednesday by state Attorney General Bill

Lockyer, who answered questions at an Irvine hotel. He noted violent

crime across the state has fallen every year for the past decade. The

latest figures depict a 13% drop in violent crime in the state’s most

populous cities.

Lockyer chalked up the decline to community-oriented policing, tougher

sentencing and improvements in technology. But he warned that the age

group most likely to commit crimes, ages 18 to 30, will grow dramatically

over the next 10 years.

“The trend is encouraging,” he said. “We’ve had the smallest amount of

18- to 30-year-olds now, but it’s going to turn around. We’ll see if the

numbers go up as much as they are predicted.”

In Costa Mesa, the police force is 154 officers strong, the most the

department has ever employed. Besides beefing up the staff, the

department has set up substations in various neighborhoods to provide a

visual presence. The department has also adopted programs that give

residents a better opportunity to understand how it functions.

But the true barometer of success, no matter how flattering the

statistics may be, is the response from the community.

“They are very responsive to our calls and try hard to make themselves

available,” said Sandi Ames, who has lived on the West Side for 12 years.

Ames said she remembers moving to the area and feeling frightened to walk

to the store at night. Now, she doesn’t hesitate before going out. “I

think the police department has done a wonderful job and the only thing

they can really do is continue to increase their presence in the

community,” she said.

Other residents are appreciative of the department’s philosophy. Shelly

Westmore, the executive director of Girls Inc., said she was contacted by

an officer several times when he was transferred to the West Side

substation. Westmore said the organization has also been assisted by

another officer who created a safety plan for their Anaheim Avenue

building.

“There has been an improved presence here and we’ve appreciated it,”

Westmore said. “The sense we get is they are trying to be in touch with

the community as best they can. That is a definite positive sign.”