Speedway's Crime Stats Drop for 2008

(posted Dec 9)

Speedway Police Chief Jeff Dine released crime figures for the first 11 months of the year at Monday's Police Commission meeting that showed an overall decrease compared to 2007. Although Speedway had one murder and rape this year, compared to none last year, assaults are down 10%, burglaries 20% and vehicle thefts 33%. Theft is up by 7%, and armed robberies are almost equal with 39 cases this year versus 42 last year.

Dine pointed out that vehicle thefts can increase in winter months due to cars being left unattended with engines running to warm them up.

The commission accepted a letter of resignation from Lt. Dennis Anderson, who left the department last month to become the Whitestown Police Chief.

Dine told the commission that the department has conducted 24 interviews to fill the vacancy and would be giving polygraph tests to the top five for further evaluation.

Dine said the department's new dog is in training with handler Mike Hart in Kentucky, and the canine team should be working in town by the middle of January. Darko, the department's previous canine released earlier this year after it went blind due to a brain tumor, has been adopted by one of the officers.