COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The year 2008 is history. As Columbus police looked back at the past year, the division said it was a violent year for the city's residents.
NBC 4's Tom Brockman BROKE DOWN the numbers Friday.
Brockman looked at everything from murders and rapes to assaults.
The numbers were from reports taken, not actuals, but give a preliminary look at what CPD dealt with in 2008.
Columbus began the year with a rocky start.
Masked men stormed the North Linden home of April Lewis and demanded cash. April's son, Dennis Lewis, was shot and killed after he confronted the suspects.
"My son was in the other room, and he saved me," April said.
Dennis' twin brother, Derris, was charged with Dennis' murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Dennis' murder was one of the city's 108 homicides.
It's a number significantly higher than the 79 homicides in 2007.
Police officials, though, said 2007's small number of homicides was extraordinary and unexplainable. In both 2005 and 2006, there were 104 homicides.
COLUMBUS CRIME BREAKDOWN
These crimes were reported to Columbus police during 2008:
- Police took reports on more than 1,200 cases of aggravated assault in 2008. There were a little more than 1,700 actual cases in 2007.
- More than 3,800 robbery reports were taken, and 2007's actual cases were very similar.
- Almost 18,000 burglary reports were taken. There were more than 14,000 actual 2007 cases.
- Police took 829 rape reports. There were 688 actual cases in 2007.
CPD officials said it was unclear what kind of changes will be made in the coming year but the division faces challenges to making Columbus a safer place in 2009.
"Obviously, our biggest struggle will be living within the budget that we are given," CPD Spokesperson Amanda Ford said. "You know, obviously that's hard because you can't always account for overtime and all of those issues. But we also really struggle with manpower. With not having those additional recruits coming in next year, we don't replace any of those officers who are retiring or may be out on disabilities."
Brockman reminded residents those numbers are reports only, and could be reclassified as other crimes.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information in this developing story.
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