NORTHAMPTON — How the police department spends its money is on a lot of residents’ minds.
In the budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, Police Chief Jody Kasper reviewed how officers have been spending their time with a look at police activity in the city during 2019.
Crime continues to trend downward, Kasper wrote. City police saw 1,249 major crimes committed in calendar year 2019, compared to 1,436 in 2018 and 1,636 in 2017. Car crashes resulting in personal injury or significant property also are also declining, with 511 crashes reported in 2019 compared to 536 in 2018 and 563 in 2017, she said.
Of the more than 35,000 calls Northampton officers handled in 2019, Kasper said the city’s police:
■Arrested 681 people, 100 of whom were operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
■Investigated 511 car crashes that resulted in personal injury or over $1,000 in damages.
■Investigated 2,661 offenses.
■Responded to 341 domestic violence calls, 171 of which ended in either an arrest or criminal charges.
■Wrote 2,985 motor vehicle citations.
■Processed 183 sex offender registrations and 305 license to carry applications.
■Responded to 36 overdoses, 12 of which resulted in death; officers administered Narcan to 15 patients, saving 12.
■Initiated 85 outreach efforts through Drug Addiction Recovery Team (DART) officers to connect those struggling with addiction to local resources.
■Installed 118 car seats.
■Coordinated 18 lockdown/safety drills in schools.
■Participated in over 400 hours of varied community outreach initiatives.
■Collected over 4,500 pounds of food for the Northampton Survival Center.
■Hosted 32 ride-alongs.
The department raised money to fight childhood cancer as well as funds for veterans and families coping with PTSD, according to Kasper. Police also hosted a youth fishing derby and a Citizens Police Academy.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.