The Webster City Police Department released a monthly report for December of 2012. The department is releasing numbers for many police activities in an effort to increase transparency, according to police chief Brian Hughes. Previously, the department released reports annually.
He said the numbers show how much work the department deals with. Year to date, there have been 18,169 calls for service. Hughes said that number translates into about 38 calls per officer at the department, of which there are currently 10 officers, per average work week. That's about one call per hour for each officer.
"Some of those calls can be cleared in minutes, some might take hours. That's also on top of investigations, vacation home watches, vehicle patrols and school foot patrols. These numbers show that our officers are keeping busy," Hughes said.
The 60 parking tickets issued in December, with 217 on record from year to date, were all issued during the emergency snow day, according to Hughes.
Fact Box
By the numbers for December 2012
Webster City Police Department
Calls for Service - 1,244; Year to date 18,169
Telephone Calls Processed - 1,682; Year to date 19,816
Incident Reports Filed - 53; Year to date - 823
Offenses (Actual Charged Offenses) - 21; Year to date - 471
Arrests (Persons) - 18; Year to date - 365
911 Telephone Calls - 19; Year to date - 421
Traffic Accidents - 23; Year to date - 165
Traffic Citations - 23; Year to date - 248
Parking Tickets - 60; Year to date - 217
Unlocks (Vehicles Only) - 22; Year to date - 176