On February 5, Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous updated City Council on crime trends in the city. He also outlined plans for a Mobile Field Force within the Wilmington Police Department, which was approved by Council. This will establish a 12-officer unit that will be able to respond quickly to crime, or fear of crime, anywhere in the city.
Watch a video of Chief Evangelous' presentation of crime statistics to City Council.
The WPD reports that while the city’s crime rate continued to drop in 2012 and remains at historic lows, there is a trend of crimes such as burglaries and robberies moving from one neighborhood to another. This follows on the heels of several successful targeted crime prevention efforts by the WPD. Those efforts will continue and this unit would complement existing strategies such as dedicated neighborhood patrol officers in designated areas throughout the city.
The unit would have two teams – one team of six uniformed patrol officers and another team of six undercover officers. If funding is approved, the unit is expected to be operational this spring.
Learn more about the WPD. |
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A Wilmington Police Officer speaks with a citizen in the community. |