City Celebrates New Police Department  Crime in the City of Rockville continues to decline, according to the latest statistics from the Rockville City Police Department released in March.
Data show that overall crime within city limits for the first half of 2010 was down 4 percent compared to the first half of 2009. In 2009, statistics showed a 6 percent decrease from 2008, and data from 2008 showed a 2 percent decrease from 2007.
Although Rockville's population has consistently grown, there has not been a corresponding increase in serious crime since 2000.
The data released in March show an overall decrease in all crimes. Serious crimes, or Part 1 crimes, showed a slight increase by 2 percent, while Part 2 crimes, were down 7 percent.
Part 1 crimes include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. While there was some increase in the number of robberies, there were significant decreases in other serious crimes across the city.
Rapes decreased by 33 percent, aggravated assaults decreased by 41 percent and auto thefts decreased by 39 percent. There was no change in the number of murders (zero).
 The positive first-half statistics were released as Chief of Police T.N. Treschuk prepared to join City officials at the March 28 groundbreaking for a new state-of-the-art police station. Work on the facility, which will be located in the Old Post Office at the corner of S. Washington Street and W. Montgomery Avenue, is expected to take 16-18 months and involves significant interior renovation of the historic building.
The City Police Department is currently located in the basement of City Hall in space it outgrew many years ago. The new station—first envisioned in 2005—is a $9.1 million project that includes a new annex building. It will accommodate the department's current workforce and allow for 10 percent growth. Key portions of the Post Office exterior and lobby will be preserved and enhanced. |
