'Part 1' crimes drop 19%

Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode reports that FBI-tracked "Part 1" crimes in the city dropped 19 percent from 2012 to 2013.

The total number of reported crimes in that category was 580 in 2012. For the year 2013, the total fell to a total of 472.

"Part 1" crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary, larceny, auto theft and arson. See chart.

The only "Part 1" crime that increased in the city of Tehachapi was rape, with five in 2013 compared to four in 2012.

Arrests, on the other hand were up, with 682 misdemeanor arrests in 2013, against 455 in 2012; 296 felony arrests in 2013 against 225 in 2012 and 96 juvenile arrests in 2013 against 78 in 2012.

With more arrests keeping people off the street, Kermode said, crime goes down.

"We got back to full patrol strength in 2013," Kermode said. "There were some [officer] injuries."

Full strength is a total of 15 sworn officers.

"With re-alignment we have been targeting repeat offenders and taking a zero tolerance approach [to drugs and drug influence]," Kermode said.

Keeping drug activity down helps control property crime, he said.

"Property crimes are driven by drug users."

Aggravated assault, Kermode said, arises often from domestic violence and alcohol.

The officers regularly carry out bar checks and make their presence known.

"The bars are tracking themselves fairly well now," he said.

Kermode said the community is helping itself in fighting crime.

"I want to give credit to the community, to the Greater Tehachapi Crime Watch and to social networking. People are being more aware, more careful. They are locking the doors on their cars."

He said that within a few weeks, the police web site will be updated. The site is reached via a link on the city website, http://www.tehachapicityhall.com.

"It is a major face-lift," he said.

Crime Prevention Specialist Teri Cryer is doing the web site update and is engaged in community outreach.

She organized the "Shop with a Cop" event and the senior citizen day at the Hitching Post Theater. Cryer also presents crime prevention talks in the schools.

School Resource Officer Mike Palmeteer works at Tehachapi High School, Monroe High School and Jacobsen Middle School.

Resource officer Zack St. John is assigned to the three elementary schools.

They establish a routine presence at the schools, help with bully problems, assist the administration and deal with drugs, fights and weapons.

"This school year has been a very quiet year on campus," Kermode said. "It's been a good year."

In addition to the chief, one officer is on duty on a Kern County narcotics team, two are school resource officers, two are sergeants and eight are patrol. The school resource officers also serve on patrol.

The department will move into the new police station, a former garment factory on East C Street that is being renovated, in mid-April, Kermode said.

"There's still a lot of finish work inside, – cabling and computer work. It has gone very smoothly. Aspen Builders are great to work with.

The wood beam entrance has a "mountain feel to it," he said.