Crime is up in Cheney

Crime reports in Cheney jumped 16.8 percent in 2016, according to year-end statistics from the Cheney Police Department. The increase comes after a decline in 2015 of 8.68 percent over 2014 numbers - which in themselves reflected an increase of 12.37 percent over 2013 statistics.

Overall, crime reports increased to 639 in 2016, compared to 547 in 2015 - which was a drop from the 2014 number of 599. The largest area of increase last year came in motor vehicle thefts, up 164 percent, with rapes doubling from seven to 14, burglaries up 52.50 percent and thefts up 19.10 percent.

Assaults and domestic violence reports were also up 15 and 9.09 percent, respectively

Police officials were able to link a number of those motor vehicle thefts, along with thefts of items from motor vehicles, to four individuals apprehended in three separate incidents at the end of last summer. Through August, motor vehicle thefts were 35, a figure that was three more than the totals for 2014 and 2015 combined.

Since the arrests, motor vehicle thefts have dropped to 10 from September to the end of the year - about two per month compared to just over four per month through August.

Several areas showed declines, with criminal alcohol offenses down almost 32 percent, drug offenses down 27.2 percent and robberies down 25 percent. Restraining orders were also down almost 37 percent.

The department had some high-profile events in 2016, including an attempted murder at The Grove apartment complex, an armed robbery at the Dollar Tree, the theft of an ATM machine at the City Fuel gas station and a high speed chase that began at Northern Quest Resort and Casino, wound its way through Cheney and culminated on Interstate 90 near Ritzville. All four incidents resulted in the apprehension of suspects.

Also last year, Sgt. Chad Eastep was awarded the National Chiefs of Police Association's Medal of Valor for his actions in a fire at the Reno Nugget Apartments on Dec. 7, 2015. Eastep responded to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived, preventing extensive damage or potential injuries.

In other patrol areas, felony and misdemeanor arrests declined by 26 and 11.95 percent respectively, with traffic citations, warnings and contacts also declining. Cheney officers issued more parking tickets in 2016, up from 3,305 in 2015 to 3,754.

In communications, computer-aided dispatch calls for service rose 2 percent to 32,569; averaging 2,714 calls per month compared to just over 2,640 per month in 2015. Dispatchers also saw an increase in their non-call workload, with no contact orders rising 11 percent, warrants 39 percent and firearms-related issues 27 percent. Probation and data entry work declined 16 and 4 percent.

From a budgetary standpoint, the department ended 2016 going over its $2.685 million budget by $16,831. As with past budgets, the biggest issue was overtime, which totaled $181,070.82 - 584.1 percent, $150,070.82, over projections.

The department has taken steps to alleviate the overtime overages. Through voter approval of a levy lid lift in November 2015, the department hired patrol Officer Rocky Hanni, went solo at the end of last summer.

Cheney Police Chief John Hensley said the department is also in the process of hiring two reserve officers, something it hasn't had in several years. Both are undergoing background checks, and Hensley hopes they will be available this summer or early fall.

When it comes to overtime, Cheney's full-time officers have the right of first refusal. After that, reserve officers are offered those assignments.

"It will make some difference, but not a significant difference," Hensley said of the reserves. "Where it will make the biggest difference for us is having those extra boots on the ground on those nights when we're busy."

Outside of overtime, all other budget areas came in significantly under estimates for the year, with the exception of the quartermaster/criminal justice fund account which was $65.56 over its $11,500 allotment. The department came in under budget in dispatch costs, $67,657 short of its budgeted $577,400, was 87.9 percent of its estimated $28,300 in fuel costs and 89 percent of its projected $19,800 in supplies costs.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].