Sounding Board -- Dave Snowden

Over the past several months, I have listened with dismay to the

comments of a few of our local residents claiming that our city has a

very high crime rate. One can only wonder why these people would want to

create such a bad and false image here, or why no one has asked my

department for any facts to support or refute their claims.

It is, however, time to set the record straight on the matter of high

crime in Costa Mesa as it is both unfair and harmful to allow their

misrepresentation of our image to continue.

Of course we have crime in Costa Mesa. Crime exists wherever there are

people. The image of Costa Mesa being a high crime and unsafe city,

however, is not deserved. The fact is that Costa Mesa’s crime rate has

been on a continual downtrend for the past 12-plus years.

In fact, Costa Mesa has reduced the crime rate by nearly 56% during

this same period. If you consider our crime rate as a box score, then

Costa Mesa would have earned a spot in the World Series of crime

reduction.

As it is important for you to understand what role crime statistics

play in determining how safe a city is, let me point out a few things:

First, it is wrong, in my opinion, to compare crime rates between cities.

Although the media has been doing so for years, and we have fared well in

these comparisons, attempts at determining the relative safety of cities

in this manner is very unfair and misleading.

The reason is that reporting policies vary among cities, as do the

attitudes of citizens toward reporting crime. For example, crimes may

often go unreported, and thus never end up becoming a statistic. Crime

goes unreported for many reasons, but is most often related to a victim’s

lack of confidence in a police department’s ability to solve crime or to

take crime seriously. Oftentimes, police -- because of a heavy workload,

department policies, or sheer laziness -- don’t take some reports that

should be taken.

In some cities, victims may not like having to go to the police

station to report a crime per local requirement, so they don’t. Other

departments may mail victims a report form and ask them to fill it out

and return it to the department. Some don’t bother to do so. Some victims

fear retaliation from suspects and don’t want to get involved. Others

just don’t care to report them.

Remember, only reported crime makes the record books. If crime is not

reported accurately, it becomes difficult to assess crime trends and to

deliver police services where they are most needed to prevent crime and

apprehend criminals.

In Costa Mesa, whether it’s your home or business or elsewhere, we

take all reports seriously. We report crime accurately, and we use the

data gleaned in our crime analysis unit to map trends to prevent and

solve crime.

It is also a mistake to consider everything on a percentage basis. As

an example, let us assume for a moment that during 1999, there were no

incidents of graffiti in our city.

In 2000, assume we have one incident reported -- a small scribble on a

mailbox. Now, this incident would not usually keep any of us awake at

night. But, rather than “one,” we’ll put this “crime wave” in terms of

percentages and put it on the front page as “Costa Mesa experiences a

100% increase in graffiti.” It could tend to alarm those not aware of the

actual numbers involved. Unfortunately, this scenario happens all too

often and tends to create a false perception of crime in our community.

Crime clearance rates, on the other hand, are one of the best measures

of a department’s effectiveness in the community. The ability and

willingness of an agency to solve crime and clear cases builds confidence

in the department, encourages citizens to report crime, can remove the

fear of retaliation and allows us to rid the community of those who would

use crime as a way of life.

Costa Mesa has one of the highest clearance rates in the state and has

had for several years. This indicates to us that we have a population who

trusts and depends upon us to prevent and solve crime and that they are

willing to do their part in helping us do so. Citizen cooperation and

trust encourages our dedicated and hard-working police employees to

continue their efforts to make Costa Mesa an even safer community. This

team effort between the police and the community works.

Remember, crime is committed by opportunists and criminals of all

races, religions, genders and cultures, rich or poor.

Costa Mesa is a fine, safe city. It is a beautiful place to live,

work, shop or play.

Tourists find us a great destination, and a better place to shop

doesn’t exist. We are blessed, not burdened, by the many cultures that

make up our city. It is but one of the many things that make us great.

With help and tolerance, we will get even better.

It is my strong belief, my policy and my obligation to protect every

person who enters our city, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual

orientation or legal status. Further, we believe everyone should be

treated fairly and with courtesy and respect.

Isn’t it only fair that Costa Mesa’s image be accurate?

We are a safe city. The men and women of the Costa Mesa Police

Department are dedicated to making it stay that way. We appreciate your

confidence and your help.

* DAVE SNOWDEN is Costa Mesa’s police chief.