Iowa City police say recently released crime statistics underline the need for more officers.
The Crime In the United States Report — which compiles statistics nationwide — provides data for various categories including murder, forcible rape, robbery, burglary and arson.
Violent crime in Iowa City saw an increase, with robberies skyrocketing 66 percent, from 33 to 55 in the same time period, and rape reports spiking 25 percent.
The city had a rate of 3.8 crimes per 1,000 population in 2008, a rise of 0.5 percent, which is still below the national average of 4.5 percent.
Local officials expressed concern over the new statistics, but noted the increase was expected.
“I don’t think that should come as a surprise to anyone,” Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.
“I’ve heard that every year,” UI junior Daniel Lage said, and he has noticed an increase in crime in the past two years.
“In general, I think [the police are] not doing enough,” he said.
Police are putting too much focus on downtown, he said, and are neglecting areas farther from campus.
While Kelsay couldn’t pinpoint one particular reason for the jump in numbers, he said, he is particularly concerned about the lack of officers in the Iowa City police. The expansion of Iowa City both in terms of population, as well as its geographical size, has left the department spread too thin, he said.
“Officers are scrambling from call to call,” Kelsay said. “We are chasing our tail.”
But he admitted hiring more officers is not a “silver-bullet solution.”
“It’s easy for me to say we need more officers when I’m not the one that has to pay for it,” Kelsay said.
Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey expressed similar concerns.
“We have been addressing these issues since they started,” she said. “We’re exploring opportunities to increase public safety.”
The City Manager’s Office has been pursuing personnel grants to add officers to the police, she said.
The council is also considering putting a franchise fee on utilities that could provide enough funding for four additional officers, Bailey said. City Councilor Mike O’Donnell said the details of that fee are still under discussion, but he estimated that every percentage point could bring in as much as $840,000.
The City Council is also looking to combat crime by considering loitering and youth curfew ordinances. The council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to continue moving forward with a potential curfew, but many councilors are torn on the issue.
The city also hired a crime prevention officer in late summer, Bailey said.
But O’Donnell said law enforcement is only part of the solution to preventing crime.
“I don’t think anybody has the answer,” O’Donnell said. “It will take the whole community.”