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Lakewood Police report drops in key property crimes, say Flock cameras and targeted units helped cut stolen vehicles 67%
Summary
Chief Patrick Smith said Lakewood Police ended 2024 with reductions in major property‑crime categories and expanded targeted units and technology, including near‑complete deployment of Flock license‑plate readers and a dedicated business‑district car.
Chief Patrick Smith told the Lakewood City Council on March 10 that the Lakewood Police Department saw declines in several major crime categories in 2024 and credited staffing, targeted enforcement and technology deployments.
“In 2024, we were able to increase the numbers to our of our officers to make sure that we were at maximum capacity for our city,” Chief Patrick Smith said during the council study session.
The department reported 49,810 calls for service in 2024 and 44,110 dispatches. Chief Smith listed staffing at 102 sworn officers, seven limited commission officers and seven civilians, plus two K‑9s. The department reported 2,059 arrests for the year (a roughly 10% increase year over year); 1,643 violent‑crime incidents; 3,324 property‑crime incidents; and 828 investigative cases assigned to the criminal investigations unit.
Property crime measures showed marked improvements in 2024: the department reported a 67% year‑over‑year reduction in motor vehicle…
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