Patrick County led in the number of arrests among all Virginia counties with a population of less than 20,000, Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said the 2017 annual Crime in Virginia Report showed.
Smith said that Patrick County’s incident rate (crime rate) also is below the statewide average, with 3,810 offenses reported per 100,000 in population, or 3.81 percent.
Patrick’s rate for 2017 was 2.97 percent, Smith said the report showed.
The incident rate is based on reported Group A offenses, which are described as all felonies and serious misdemeanors, ranging from vandalism to murder, according to Smith. Patrick’s rate for 2016 was 2.71 percent.
The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office also investigated and reported 532 offenses while the Virginia State Police investigated 23 in the same time frame, Smith said.
There are 12 patrol officers and six investigators in his department, Smith said, adding there are six troopers assigned to Patrick County.
The report also showed that certain types of crimes decreased from the previous year, Smith said of larcenies, aggravated assaults and homicides. Other types, including burglaries, simple assaults and vandalisms, increased, he added.
Arrest numbers for Patrick also were higher in 2017 when compared to 2016, according to Smith.
In 2017, Smith said 772 arrests were made compared to 738 arrests in 2016. He noted the arrest totals cited also include Group B offenses, such as driving under the influence, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and trespassing.
Smith said 45 drunk drivers were charged and 169 drug arrests were made in 2017.
Overall, Smith said he is pleased with the numbers and the performance of his officers.
“We had increases in some areas, and decreases in others, but overall, our rate is very low.”
Smith said. He added officers in his department also “are arresting those committing crimes at a high rate.”
Released in June, the crime report is published by the Virginia State Police records division and reflects crime statistics provided by law enforcement agencies in Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities.
