The City of Westfield on Thursday released the Westfield Police Department 2020 Annual Report. Data reported a decrease in major crimes while seeing an uptick in domestic disturbances.
“Just last week Westfield was named the top suburb in the U.S. and one of the reasons cited was our low crime rate,” Mayor Andy Cook said. “The Westfield Police Department Annual Report highlights the people and processes that help us to continue to be a safe community. I am proud of the proactive and professional policing from our officers.”
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Cook
“No one could have predicted the challenges we faced in 2020,” Police Chief Joel Rush said. “We did see an increase in domestic runs that I attribute to the pandemic. Our team rose to the challenges presented by the pandemic and social unrest in the country. Our team adapted and responded to the challenges of 2020. We have a dedicated group of men and women who continue to show they can manage transition and still meet and exceed the demands of one of the fastest growing cities in Indiana.”
In 2020, the department transitioned to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS is a criminal reporting system that is designed to capture details on each crime incident. Using this new system, WPD reported a decrease in major crimes. Overall in crime statistics, Westfield saw a decrease in rapes, robberies, thefts and automobile accidents.
The department also received national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in 2020. This was the department’s second award of national accreditation, the first coming in 2016. CALEA accreditation comes following the required four-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors. The honor recognizes excellence in public safety and commitment to the community.
Additionally, WPD reported on the transition to a new body worn and vehicle camera system to promote transparency in departmental actions. Among many staff changes and promotions in 2020, the department reported training nine new officers and assigning three officers to the Noblesville/Westfield Emergency Services Unit (ESU), a highly trained tactical team for high-risk critical incidents.
Click here for more information and to view the full Westfield Police Department 2020 Annual Report.