2012 Monroe crime report shows ups and downs - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Monroe officials unveiled the report on crime in the city for the year 2012 on Monday.

The crime rate was down slightly. The report shows the overall rate decreased by 5%.

Resting with the current 2012 Monroe crime report is not an option for some.

"I think we should more than ever incorporate neighborhood watches and in the neighborhood I live in, we do have a neighborhood watch," Mary-Ann Riddle said.

Riddle hopes more neighborhoods will start up the volunteer group. Especially after the number of robberies rose last year.

In 2011, the city saw more than 120 reported robberies and last year officers worked slightly even more cases.

"The crime rate is just a little better this year than it was last year," Earlene Bryant said.

Bryant lives in South Monroe. Last year, officers worked half of the city's murders near her neighborhood along with other crimes.
     
"We have break-ins and it's mostly juveniles who have dropped out of school," Bryant said.

Chief Quinten Holmes is not at all giving himself a pat on the back.

"Myself as well as members of the Monroe Police Department, we want to reduce all crimes," Holmes said.

Crimes that saw a drop last year are murder,rape, auto thefts, and burglaries. But the report shows more assaults and batteries, robberies, and thefts in 2012.

"By having these neighborhood watches, we can make the police aware about what's going on in our neighborhoods," Riddle said.

The police chief is starting up a few programs in middle and high schools in hopes of making sure the future will see crime continuing to drop.

To see the full crime report: click here.